'94 'Spos sweep '73 Big Red Machine

GAME 1 Riverfront Stadium - '94-MTL 9, '73-CIN 4: This game was tighter than a drum for the first 7 innings as the Expos were clinging to a 1 run lead. Jack Billingham gave up 4 unearned runs over his 5 innings of work as the Big Red Machine's defense let him down. Errors by the normally surehanded Concepcion and Driessen led to Cincy's demise. The Expos PH Rondel White led off the 8th with a grounder back to the box. Marquis Grissom walked and was doubled home by Mike Lansing who went 4 for 4 on the day. The ever so hot Moises Alou followed with a 2 run shot and Wil Cordero ended the scoring with a bases clearing triple. Mel Rojas threw a scoreless 9th in a non save situation. Pete Rose went 3 for 4 in a losing cause.

GAME 2 Riverfront Stadium - '94-MTL 9, '73-CIN 7: Moises Alou is so hot, going 3 for 5 actually lowered his batting average ! No one can get Felipe's son out it seems. The kid is a veritable hitting machine. His 2 runs shot in the 8th off of Pedro Borbon was the difference maker in this 2 run game. Mel Rojas faltered in relief and John Wetteland had to come on to get the final out by striking out Johnny Bench.

GAME 3 Olympic Stadium - '94-MTL 5, '73-CIN 4: Best game of the series by far. This contest took 11 frames to get a victor. Dick Baney gave the Reds 5+ solid innings of work. Pedro Martinez was shaky during his 6 inning stint and continues to be an enigma for his manager who also had him on his KOD2 squad. Pedro was gone after 6 innings and 144 pitches. Gil Heredia relieved him and threw 5 shutout innings and wound up getting the win. Interestingly every time Cincy scored in the top of an inning Montreal matched them with the same run count in the bottom. The winning run was scored in the 11th when Marquis Grissom singled with 1 out and stole second. With 2 outs Rondel White, playing in place of the fatigued Alou, singled to left to score the speedy Grissom.

GAME 4 Olympic Stadium - '94-MTL 5, '73-CIN 4: The second 1 run game in a row looked to be a pitcher's duel when it started out. Both Don Gullet, the loser, and Jeff Fassero allowed only 1 run over the first 6 innings. Cincy struck first by scoring 3 big runs in the top of the 7th to chase Fassero in favor of Jeff Shaw, who eventually was the game winner. Montreal, not to be outdone posted 4 runs in the bottom of the frame to carry a 1 run lead into the final 2 stanzas. The combination of Mel Rojas and John Wetteland (3rd save) shut the door on the Reds and closed out the series sweep. Moises Alou returned to the lineup and took "the collar", going 0-4. Driessen and "Doggy" Perez came up big with 3 hits each. Perez had 3 RBI's in a losing cause.