The Reds lose both at Riverfront as the series shifts to Three Rivers for Game 3. The Reds send Mike LaCoss (14-8 3.50 Grade 11) against Bert Blyleven (12-5 3.60 Grade 11Y) for the Pirates.
The Reds with no room for failure come out swinging as they tag Blyleven for 4 big runs in the first inning. George Foster would drive in Joe Morgan for a 1-0 lead and then with 2 runners on Johnny Bench take a Blyleven curve over the left-center wall for a 3 run homer. The score would remain 4-0 until the 5th when Bench again would drive in a run, this time with a sac fly that just missed going out of the park. In the 7th the Reds would get another one as Davey Concepecion would line a homer down the line in left.
LaCoss was working on a shutout into the 9th and with two outs he would allow his only run as Dave Parker would drive a fastball out to right. That would be all the Pirates would get as the Reds stay in the series with a big 6-1 win. Pirates still lead the series 2-1.
Final Score: Reds 6 – Pirates 1
WP: Mike LaCoss (1-0)
LP: Bert Blyleven (0-1)
HR’s: Reds – Dave Concepcion (1), Johnny Bench (1), Pirates – Dave Parker (1)