GAME 4: Angels 2, Reds 1

October 21, Anaheim Stadium, Anaheim

Jack Billingham vs Bill Singer
Angels 2, Reds 1

On the verge of a Series sweep, Cincinnati chose Jack Billingham to start game 4, while California surprised everyone by tapping seldom-used Bill Singer, who was not even on the Angels’ post-season roster for the LDS and the LCS.  But although the Angels had two strong left-handers available, California management noticed that the Reds were 9-1 against left-handed starters this season, and decided to roll the dice with the right-handed Singer instead, despite his having made only 1 other start the whole year.

Perhaps it was a good omen for the Angels when Mickey Rivers led off the bottom of the 1st with a HR, his first of the season.  A Ken McMullen single 5 batters later gave California a 2-0 lead, one of the few they had yet to experience in this series.

As the game progressed, Singer’s 6 walks allowed shocked nobody.  But through 7 innings everybody was shocked that no Cincinnati batter had managed a hit off Singer, which was good for the Angels since they had no more success against Billingham after the 1st inning.  Yet, with one out and one on (via a BB) in the top of the 8th, Joe Morgan lined a single to left-center to put runners on the corners.  Not only was the no-hitter gone, but the slim 2-0 lead was also in jeopardy. Closer Dave LaRoche was called on and got just what the doctor ordered, a Pete Rose groundball that resulted in a 5-4-3 twin killing.

The 9th inning also proved to be a nail-biter when Ken Griffey led off with a double, followed by 1-out singles from Johnny Bench and Tony Perez to make the score 2-1 with thy tying run on 2nd base.  But LaRoche managed to strike out Dan Driessen and induced a routine grounder from Cesar Geronimo to seal the win.  The Halos were alive for yet another day.
Cincinnati leads the Series 3-1
--Submitted by Douglas Zaner--