Northern Expos-ure

Expos 9, Reds 8 (11 inn)
Don Gullett vs Steve Renko

After dropping ther first 2 games of the series to the "Big Red Machine", the lowly Expos were not optimistic about their chances in game 3 with the injured Steve Renko returning to the rotation.  Renko, who had been Montreal's ace for the better part of the past 6 seasons, was not himself last year and hasn't looked himself all spring.  After pitching well over 200 innings in 4 of the last 5 seasons Renko was hoping to use '76 as his bounce back season just like he used 1973 when he went 15-11 with a 2.81 ERA.  Giving up a leadoff double to Pete Rose was not a good sign, nor was a two strike single to Griffey to put runners on the corner.  Getting Morgan to pop out to center and only giving up a sac fly to "Doggie" enabled Renko to get out of the first just down 1-0.  The top of the second started exactly the same way the first did.  This time Bench led off with the double, but from Renko's perspective he thankfully was able to get the next 3 hitters easily.  Renko would not be as lucky in the top of the 3rd. Back to back singles by Rose and Griffey were followed by a 5 pitch walk to Morgan to load the bases with nobody out.  Doggie uncharacteristically popped out to short and did not produce a run, but surprise starter Bob Bailey lined a single to center to score 2.  Renko was able to collect himself and get Bench and Geronimo out to end the inning, but he was down 3-0.  The bottom of the 3rd would see the Expos strike back against Don Gullett.  Renko, who is a pretty good hitting pitcher, flared a singled to right.  The next 3 batters would follow suit and the Expos were now on the board.  Parrish struck out looking at a called strike 3 that painted the corner and Mackanin popped out to right with the bases loaded for the second out of the inning.  Gullet got to fine and lost the next two batters to walks to tie the game at 3-3.  Light hitting Pepe Frias would fight off 4 pitches with an 0-2 count before landing a parachute into the no-man's land of right center to score 2 and put the Expos up 5-3.  10 Expos would come to the plate in the 3rd as the lead changed hands for the first time today.  Montreal would score solo runs in the 4th and 6th and Cincy would net 2 in the 6th to keep the status quo.  Renko would be gone after getting 1 out in the 6th, but he still clung to his lead.  Gullet was gone after 5, giving up 6 and not looking like an ace.  Steve Dunning would take the hill as Renko's replacement and get out of the 6th and pitch a scoreless 7th.  The 8th would be Dunning's swan song as the Big Red Machine flexed its mighty muscles.  With the bases loaded and nobody out George Foster would come off the bench and line a 2 run double off the wall in left.  Pete Rose would follow that with his 5th hit of the day, an RBI single to right to give the Reds an 8-7 lead.  Fans at Jarry Parc were thinking, "here we go again".  In the bottom of the 8th Red reliever Rawly Eastwick would give up a 1 out triple to Pepe Mangual.  Jerry White was given an intentional pass to create a double play opportunity.  On deck was Gary Carter, who had a single and two near miss home run opportunities on his resume for the day.  In a surprise move Montreal called back their young catcher in favor of the hot pinch hitting bat of Jose Morales.  Morales once again delivered with a line shot to left center to tie the game at 8-8.  The Expos were alive again !  Morales, who usually pinch hits and then sits, was rewarded with the opportunity to stay in the lineup and play first base as Barry Foote shifted behind the plate.  After a scoreless 9th inning the game headed to extra innings.  The 10th was also scoreless thanks to the Santo Alcala getting Parrish and Mackanin out to strand Mangual at second.  Don Stanhouse, who already pitched 2 scoreless innings added a third to his linescore by not allowing a run in the 11th.  Alcala would start the 11th for Cincy and quickly give up a clean single to Ellis Valentine.  Barry Foote executed a perfect hit and run and with nobody out there were runners on the corners for Pepe Frias, who immediately began to take off his helmet and his batting gloves.  Mike Jorgensen was called on to pinch hit for Frias and hit a frozen rope through a drawn in infield to easily score Valentine and help Montreal salvage the final game of this 3 game set.


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