Game 1 October 4, 1979 @ Olympic Stadium, Montreal
Cincinnati 3
Montreal 2
Cincinnati leads series 1-0
The heavily favored Expos see their 9th inning rally fall short and they drop game one to the Reds 3-2. The Reds opened the scoring with an RBI groundout by Cesar Geronimo in the 2nd. Dan Driessen hit a solo homer in the 6th to make it 2-0. An RBI single by Joe Morgan made it 3-0 in the 7th. Reds starter Tom Seaver took his shutout into the 9th inning. With one out, singles by Jerry White and Tony Perez, plus a walk to Gary Carter loaded the bases. Doug Bair was called on from the bullpen. Larry Parrish singled in a run and Jim Mason's sac fly scored another. Dave Cash was called on to hit for Expos starter Steve Rogers and he flew out to end the game. Ray Knight had three hits for the Reds.
Game 2 October 5, 1979 @ Olympic Stadium, Montreal
Cincinnati 7
Montreal 2
Cincinnati leads series 2-0
The Cincinnati Reds broke open a 2-2 tie game with five runs in the ninth inning to win both games in Montreal and move to within one win of the World Series. Woodie Fryman was on in relief to start the 9th. Dave Concepcion singled and Joe Morgan sacrificed him to second. George Foster singled and Johnny Bench walked to load the bases. Dan Driessen singled in two and Ray Knight doubled in one. Cesar Geronimo and Hector Cruz also added RBI singles. Doug Bair came on and got the Expos 1-2-3 in the 9th. Knight had four hits, Concepcion had three. Bench walked four times.
Game 3 October 7, 1979 @ Riverfront Stadium, Cincinnati
Montreal 7
Cincinnati 9
Cincinnati wins series 3-0
The series shifts to Cincinnati as the stunned Expos need a win to stay alive. Warrren Cromarie's two run homer in the 3rd puts the Expos up 3-2. Chris Speier's sac fly in the 4th makes it 4-2. Ken Griffey's RBI single in the 5th gets one back for the Reds and it's 4-3. Gary Carter hits a two run homer in the 6th to make it 6-3 and the Expos are feeling good. George Foster's solo homer in the bottom of the 6th makes it 6-4. That's the score when the Reds come to bat in the bottom of the 8th. Griffey leads off the inning with a single and the Expos call on Stan Bahnsen to replace Bill Lee. Dave Concepcion singles and Joe Morgan walks to load the bases. Bahnsen uncorks a wild pitch to plate a run before striking out Foster. Johnny Bench draws a walk and the bases are loaded again. Dan Driessen steps in and delivers a grand slam home run to put the Reds on top 9-6. Riverfront Stadium is now rocking. Doug Bair is again called on to close out the game. He gets two outs before surrendering a solo homer to Ellis Valentine. In steps long time Red and fan favorite Tony Perez. Perez flies out to end the game. The Reds sweep the Expos and head to the World Series. Tony Scott and Perez each had three hits in the loss. Foster had three RBIs.
1979 NLCS MVP - Dan Driessen, Cincinnati
Dan Driessen was named the MVP of the 1979 NLCS. Dan batted .364 with two home runs. He led the Reds in RBIs with 7. His grand slam in the 8th inning of game three propelled the Reds to the World Series.