NLCS Game #5

10/13 - Crosley Field - GAME #5
Reds 2, Mets 1
The pivotal game 5 of the series matched game 2 loser Craig Swan (3-3, 4.01) against Johnny Vander Meer, he of double no hit fame.  Both hurlers established early on that runs would not come easy.  New York took a 1-0 lead when Doug Flynn bunted home Joel Youngblood on a safety squeeze.  Swan was in total control as evidenced by his 4 strikeout / 0 walk performance.  In fact it looked like the 1978 NL ERA Champion, Swan, would have enough magic in his right arm to make that 1-0 lead stand up.  That was until the fateful bottom of the 8th when Jimmy Outlaw led off the bottom of the inning with an infield hit.  Reliever Joe Cascarella bunted Outlaw into scoring position on second base.  A Buck Jordan double would put runners on 2nd and 3rd with 1 out.  Swan needed to make a money pitch to prevent the tying run from scoring.  Swan made a great pitch on the outside corner that Ival Goodman flared to right just in front of the hard charging Joel Youngblood.  When the rifle armed right fielder picked up the ball it was too late.  Both runners easily scored and just like that New York was down 2-1.  After Maddox grounded out to lead  off the top of the 9th both Doug Flynn and pinch hitter Claudell Washington singled to put runners on 1st and 2nd.  Joe Cascarella, who hadn't given up an earned run all season, was not about to start now.  A cut fastball jammed Taveras, who popped out to his opposite number at short to put New York 1 out away from going down 3 games to 2 in the series.  Alex Trevino hit a slow roller to third that Outlaw charged hard and flipped to Jordan at first to retire New York's catcher by a stride.
Cincinnati leads the series 3-2