A two-run inside-the-park homer by Hector Cruz snapped a 2-2 tie in the eighth inning, lifting the Reds to a 5-2 victory over the Braves. Cruz' blow, which followed a double by Dave Collins, resulted when Braves' outfielder Charlie Spikes crashed into the fence along the left field line attempting to haul down the long drive. [The Sporting News]



Cincinnati Reds 5, Atlanta Braves 2
Game Played on Thursday, August    9, 1979 (Day game) at Riverfront Stadium
Braves       0  0  1    1  0  0    0  0  0  -   2  7  0
Reds         1  0  0    0  0  0    1  3  x  -   5  8  0


Braves               AB   R   H RBI    BB  SO    AVG      Reds                 AB   R   H RBI    BB  SO    AVG
Royster 2b            4   0   1   1     0   0   .264      Collins lf            3   2   2   0     1   0   .329
Matthews rf           4   0   1   0     0   0   .307      Kennedy 2b            4   0   1   0     0   0   .283
Bonnell cf            4   0   0   0     0   2   .249      Cruz rf               4   1   2   2     0   0   .202
Horner 3b             4   1   3   1     0   0   .327      Concepcion ss         4   1   1   0     0   0   .304
Murphy 1b             4   0   1   0     0   0   .294      Knight 3b             4   0   1   1     0   0   .312
Spikes lf             3   0   0   0     0   0   .282      Driessen 1b           2   1   0   0     2   0   .240
  Office ph           1   0   0   0     0   0   .260      Geronimo cf           4   0   1   1     0   1   .246
Frias ss              4   0   0   0     0   1   .287      Correll c             3   0   0   0     0   0   .241
Benedict c            3   1   1   0     0   1   .215      Norman p              2   0   0   0     0   0   .170
Matula p              1   0   0   0     0   1   .053        Morgan ph           1   0   0   0     0   0   .247
  Wessinger ph        1   0   0   0     0   1   .000        Hume p              0   0   0   0     0   0   .171
  Garber p            0   0   0   0     0   0   .333
  Bradford p          0   0   0   0     0   0   .000

Totals               33   2   7   2     0   6             Totals               31   5   8   4     3   1

Time of Game: 2:14   Attendance: 28,950
Left on Base: Braves 5, Reds 5
DP: Braves 1, Reds 0
Doubles: Royster (21), Geronimo (16), Collins (10), Concepcion (18), Knight (25)
Home Runs: Horner (22), Cruz (3)
Stolen Bases: Royster (22), Matthews (13), Collins (4), Concepcion (16)
Sacrifice Hits: Matula (6)
GIDP: Cruz (7)


Braves                 IP     H   R  ER  BB  SO  HR BFP    ERA
Matula                  7     4   2   2   2   0   0  26   3.76
Garber L(6-14)          0.2   4   3   3   0   0   1   6   4.38
Bradford                0.1   0   0   0   1   1   0   2   0.00
Totals                  8     8   5   5   3   1   1  34

Reds                   IP     H   R  ER  BB  SO  HR BFP    ERA
Norman W(10-8)          8     6   2   2   0   6   1  30   3.26
Hume SV(7)              1     1   0   0   0   0   0   4   3.05
Totals                  9     7   2   2   0   6   1  34

Umpires: HP - Doug Harvey, 1B - Frank Pulli, 2B - Andy Olsen, 3B - Eric Gregg


BRAVES 1ST: Royster grounded out (shortstop to first); Matthews
flied out to center; Bonnell popped to second; 0 R, 0 H, 0 E, 0
LOB.  Braves 0, Reds 0.

REDS 1ST: Collins walked; Kennedy singled to center [Collins to
third]; Cruz grounded into a double play (shortstop to second to
first) [Collins scored (no RBI), Kennedy out at second];
Concepcion flied out to center; 1 R, 1 H, 0 E, 0 LOB.  Braves 0,
Reds 1.

BRAVES 2ND: Horner singled to center; Murphy flied out to
center; Spikes grounded out (pitcher to first) [Horner to
second]; Frias grounded out (third to first); 0 R, 1 H, 0 E, 1
LOB.  Braves 0, Reds 1.

REDS 2ND: Knight grounded out (third to first); Driessen flied
out to center; Geronimo grounded out (second to first); 0 R, 0
H, 0 E, 0 LOB.  Braves 0, Reds 1.

BRAVES 3RD: Benedict singled to left; Matula out on a sacrifice
bunt (catcher to second) [Benedict to second]; Royster doubled
to left [Benedict scored]; Royster stole third; Matthews flied
out to left; Bonnell struck out; 1 R, 2 H, 0 E, 1 LOB.  Braves
1, Reds 1.

REDS 3RD: Correll grounded out (shortstop to first); Norman
grounded out (pitcher to first); Collins singled to shortstop;
Collins stole second; Kennedy popped to second; 0 R, 1 H, 0 E, 1
LOB.  Braves 1, Reds 1.

BRAVES 4TH: Horner homered; Murphy flied out to right; Spikes
grounded out (shortstop to first); Frias flied out to right; 1
R, 1 H, 0 E, 0 LOB.  Braves 2, Reds 1.

REDS 4TH: Cruz singled to left; Concepcion forced Cruz
(shortstop to second); Concepcion stole second; Knight grounded
out (pitcher to second to first) [Concepcion to third]; Driessen
flied out to right; 0 R, 1 H, 0 E, 1 LOB.  Braves 2, Reds 1.

BRAVES 5TH: Benedict flied out to left; Matula struck out; On a
bunt Royster grounded out (pitcher to first); 0 R, 0 H, 0 E, 0
LOB.  Braves 2, Reds 1.

REDS 5TH: Geronimo grounded out (third to first); Correll
grounded out (second to first); Norman grounded out (shortstop
to first); 0 R, 0 H, 0 E, 0 LOB.  Braves 2, Reds 1.

BRAVES 6TH: Matthews grounded out (third to first); Bonnell
flied out to center; Horner grounded out (pitcher to first); 0
R, 0 H, 0 E, 0 LOB.  Braves 2, Reds 1.

REDS 6TH: On a bunt Collins grounded out (third to first);
Kennedy grounded out (second to first); Cruz grounded out
(shortstop to first); 0 R, 0 H, 0 E, 0 LOB.  Braves 2, Reds 1.

BRAVES 7TH: Murphy singled to left; Spikes flied out to center;
Frias struck out; Benedict struck out; 0 R, 1 H, 0 E, 1 LOB.
Braves 2, Reds 1.

REDS 7TH: Concepcion grounded out (shortstop to first); Knight
popped to first in foul territory; Driessen walked; Geronimo
doubled to center [Driessen scored]; Correll grounded out
(shortstop to first); 1 R, 1 H, 0 E, 1 LOB.  Braves 2, Reds 2.

BRAVES 8TH: WESSINGER BATTED FOR MATULA; Wessinger struck out;
Royster popped to first in foul territory; Matthews singled to
left; Matthews stole second; Bonnell struck out; 0 R, 1 H, 0 E,
1 LOB.  Braves 2, Reds 2.

REDS 8TH: GARBER REPLACED WESSINGER (PITCHING); MORGAN BATTED
FOR NORMAN; Morgan flied out to right; Collins doubled to left;
Kennedy grounded out (first unassisted) [Collins stayed at
second]; Cruz hit an inside the park homer to left [Collins
scored]; Charlie Spikes caught the ball, hit the wall and
dropped the ball; Concepcion doubled to left; Knight doubled
to center [Concepcion scored]; BRADFORD REPLACED GARBER
(PITCHING); Driessen walked; Geronimo struck out; 3 R, 4 H, 0 E,
2 LOB.  Braves 2, Reds 5.

BRAVES 9TH: HUME REPLACED MORGAN (PITCHING); Horner singled to
center; Murphy popped to second; OFFICE BATTED FOR SPIKES;
Office grounded out (first unassisted) [Horner to second]; Frias
lined to first; 0 R, 1 H, 0 E, 1 LOB.  Braves 2, Reds 5.