4 games3games

1976 Mets defeat 1976 Reds:  4 games to 3

Game #1 (9/1) @Cin Nolan Blanks New York '76 7-0
Game #2 (9/2) @Cin Cincinnati '76 Blanks New York '76 7-0
Game #3 (9/4) @NY  New York '76 Beats Cincinnati '76 5-1, 2 HRs For Kingman
Game #4 (9/5) @NY  New York '76 Blanks Cincinnati '76 3-0
Game #5 (9/6) @NY  New York '76 Edges Cincinnati '76 3-2
Game #4 (9/8) @Cin Cincinnati '76 Upends New York '76 6-3
Game #5 (9/9) @Cin Koosman Shuts Out Cincinnati '76 4-0

Series Stats: Mets and Reds

COVINGTON, KY (AP) - The Big Red Machine jumped out to a commanding 2 games to none lead by annihilating the Mets in 2 consecutive 7-0 drubbings.  For al intents and purposes the series was over, because the Reds officially "shot their load" and the upstart Mets were just about ready to hit their stride.

Something must have been said on that flight back to Laguardia, because the highly touted Mets pitching staff held the Reds to only 5 runs over the next 4 games.  After sweeping the Reds at Shea the series headed back to Cincy, where the Reds beat up on Jon Matlack to knot the series at 3.  Game 7 saw veteran Jerry Koosman blank the Reds 4-0 in a game that was scoreless until the 7th where the Mets scored 3 runs and put the series away.  The Reds had flashbacks to the 1973 NLCS where another upstart Met team shocked the world.