1976 World Series – Game Two
October 17, 1976 at Riverfront Stadium
Reds 4, Yankees 3  Reds Lead Best of Seven Series 2-0

The Reds continued to roll as they held back a late Yankee comeback to win game two of the World Series.  Fred Norman was the starter for the Reds and Catfish Hunter threw for the Yankees.

The Reds jumped all over Hunter in the second inning.  Dan Driessen led off with a double and he scored on George Foster’s single.  Foster was then gunned down trying to steal second base before Johnny Bench doubled.  Cesar Geronimo drew a walk and Dave Concepcion drove home Bench with a single to make it 2-0.  Concepcion stole second and then Pete Rose walked to load the bases up before Ken Griffey hit a sac. fly to give the Reds a three run lead.

The Yankees finally got to Norman in the fourth inning when Graig Nettles singled home Thurman Munson to make it 3-1.  The Yankees struck again in the seventh when Fred Stanley singled home Willie Randolph and then Stanley scored on Thurman Munson’s fielders choice to tie the game up 3-3. 

While the Yankees were coming back, Hunter was shutting down the Reds.  From the third to the eighth inning, he retired fifteen straight batters.  Jack Billingham had relieved Norman and he was retired all eight batters he faced.  The Reds entered the bottom of the ninth and the game was still knotted at three a piece.

Dave Concepcion flew out to start things off in the ninth, then Pete Rose flew out to left.  Then Ken Griffey reached second base on a critical error by Fred Stanley in what should have been an inning ending ground out.  Joe Morgan was given an intentional pass, then Tony Perez came up huge with a clutch single to drive home Griffey and end the game.

Things would shift to Yankees Stadium for game three.  Needless to say, it would be a must win situation for the Yankees.

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