'85-SD 2, '74-CIN 2

Game 1 Cincinnati, Dave Dravecky and Fred Norman, a couple of southpaws were shutting down both offenses through 6 innings. In fact, The Padres were so desperate to score runs that the manager lifted Dravecky after 6 innings. No big deal but he had not allowed a hit through those 6 innings. The Padres took the lead in the top of the 7th inning on a 2 RBI double by Steve Garvey. That was the only scoring of the game as the Goose came in the ninth to slam the door for his 2nd save of the year. Dave Dravecky (2-1) got the win and McQueen (0-1) got the lose.


Game 2 Cincinnati, The Reds got revenge on the Padres in the second game of the series as they spotted their starting pitcher, Jack Billingham with an early 3-0 lead in the 3rd inning. Singles by Rose and Joe Morgan and then a three run homerun by Johnny Bench. Solo homeruns by Perez and another one by Bench later in the game made the final score 5-1 in favor of the Reds. Winning pitcher was Jack Billingham(2-2), who went the distance and allowed only 1 run on 8 hits. LeMarr Hoyt pitched a complete game for the Padres but got the loss as he moves to a disappointing 0-3 on the year.


Game 3 San Diego, Jack Murphy Stadium, The Padres hoped that returning to their home park would charge their offense. The Padres bats did wake up in the third game as they battled the powerful Reds throughout the game. The Reds got out to a 4-0 lead as they struck in the second inning. An error by third baseman Kurt Bevacqua started the rally for the Reds. The next two batters singled and pitcher Don Gullett walked to load the bases. Little Joe Morgan then hit a grandslam homerun into the seats in right field to make the score 4-0. The Padres did manage to battle back as they plated 3 runs in the fourth inning as Kevin McReynolds connected for an opposite field 2-run homer to right field and the next batter, Carmelo Martinez hit a solo blast over the temporary fence in left field. The score was now 5-3 Reds and it was a game! The Big Red Machine is not a fancy name but a testament to the power of the Reds lineup. Cincinnati added insurance in the sixth inning with two more runs and added another run in the 8th inning on back to back doubles by Driessen and Geronimo. The Padres did manage to squeak across two more runs in the bottom of the 7th on back to back homeruns by Terry Kennedy and Kurt Bevacqua. The Reds held on to win this offensive match 8-5. The winning pitcher was Don Gullett (1-2) as he pitched a complete game. Eric Show got the start and loss for the Padres and moves to 1-2 on the season as he allowed 7 runs(only 3 earned) through 6 innings pitched.


Game 4, San Diego, Jack Murphy Stadium, The last game of the series matched up former Padre Clay Kirby against the young right hander Andy Hawkins. The Padres struck first as they pushed across 5 runs in the 3rd inning. Tim Flannery and Steve Garvey drove in solo runs on singles. The big blow came off the bat of the old pro Graig Nettles as he drove in 3 runs on a double into the right field corner. Nettles had been struggling in the early going but this hit may get him going. The Reds mounted a comeback as they scored one run in the 7th inning and two in the 8th. However, the strong Padres bullpen closed the door. Craig Lefferts pitched 2 innings to set the game up for the Goose in the 9th. Gossage come in and slammed the door in the ninth to seal the game and preserve the 4 game split. Hawkins won (1-2) and Kirby suffered his first loss of the season (2-1). The Goose earned his 3rd save. -contributed by Joey Scigliano-