REDS TAKE TWO FROM BRAVES

July 11, 1980..... The Cincinnati Reds rolled into Atlanta two games ahead of the Braves in the NL West standings. With great pitching and timely hitting, the Reds increased their lead to four games. 

 

GAME 1   CINCINNATI 3   ATLANTA 2

WP: HUME (3-5)  S: BAIR (3)

LP:   NIEKRO (11-6)

HOME RUNS: CIN- GRIFFEY (7), GERONIMO (2)

Trailing 2-0 in the 8th inning, the Cincinnati Reds went on a home run attack. In the 8th, Ken Griffey tagged Atlanta ace, Phil Nieko for a solo shot. In the 9th, down 2-1 Cesar Geronimo hit a one out two run home run off Niekro to seal the victory. Doug Bair closed out the 9th for the save. Bob Horner and Jeff Burroughs

led the Braves with two hits apiece. But, it was all for not as Niekro made two bad pitches. "They hit the knucle balls that didn't knuckle", stated the dejected Niekro. "When that happens, the ball goes a long way!"
  

GAME 2   CINCINNATI 4   ATLANTA 2
WP:   SOTO (5-1)  S: HUME (19)
LP:     ALEXANDER (5-8)
HOME RUNS: NONE

The Cincinnati Reds jumped on Atlanta starter, Doyle Alexander
for four runs in the first two innings and rode Mario Soto's right arm to victory.Ken Griffey led the victorious Reds with 3 hits and an RBI.

Johnny Bench and Junior Kennedy chipped in 2 hits each.

After scoring single runs in the 1st and 3rd innings, the Braves never threatened as Tom Hume closed the door in the 9th for his 19th save.