Reds Take 2 of 3 from Braves

The Reds stayed within striking distance of the National League leading Cardinals as they took 2 of 3 from a well-balanced Braves team.

Game 1
Braves hurler Ken Johnson continued his strong season by holding the Reds to 1 run over 7 innings, and Clay Carroll (soon to be a Red, rumors have it) closed out the game despite yielding 5 hits in 2 innings of work. The first 5 Braves reached base off of Reds ace George Culver, as the Braves took a 3 run lead they would not relinquish in the top of the 1st. The Reds actually out hit the Braves 14-13 but couldn't get enough runs on the board to make the game tight.

Game 2
The Reds knocked Braves starter Ron Reed around to the tune of 6 runs in the 3rd, as 5 Reds singled to lead off the inning followed by a bases-clearing triple from P Gerry Arrigo. The Reds would get 2 more hits in the inning to bring their total to 8 in the inning.

Every member of the Reds lineup would get at least one hit, while Arrigo pitched a 6-hit, 2-run complete game for his 6th victory of the season.

Game 3
Braves ace Phil Niekro squared off against second year fireballer Gary Nolan in Game 3. The Reds struck first for a run in the bottom of the 3rd, but the Braves quickly followed in the 4th with  2 runs on the strength of 2 singles a walk, a ground out, and a sac fly. Neither team scored again until the bottom of the 7th, when Rose doubled home Bench to tie the game.

Boyer doubled home Tito Francona in the next inning to give the Braves a short-lived lead, but Vada Pinson and Alex Johnson doubled, Lee May singled, and Tony Perez hit a sac fly to give the Reds the 4-3 lead. Reds relief ace Ted Abernathy picked up the win as he held the Braves scoreless in the 9th.