Braves upset Redlegs in 4

NLDS:  '58 CIN (1) vs '51 BSN (4)
GAME 1 - Crosley Field
Braves 8, Reds 4
Neither Warren Spahn, nor Joe Nuxhall were on their "A" game in the opener, but Spahnie seemed to gut it out and make the big pitch when needed.  Nuxie was gone before the 6th was complete having surrendered 7 runs (6 earned).  Spahn went the distance allowing 4.  With the score 5-2 the Braves scored 3 big runs in the top of the six.  Those runs would be very valuable since the Reds answered back with 2 of their own in the 7th.  Sid Gordon went 2 for 4 with 4 RBI's, a homer and a double to pace the Braves.

GAME 2 - Crosley Field
Reds 5, Braves 0
Bob Purkey, who struggled all season, picked the best time of the season to be dominant.  Purkey tossed himself a neat 4 hit shutout as Cincy tied the series up a 1 game each.  The game was scoreless until the bottom of the 4th when the Reds struck it big with 4 runs off Brave starter Vern Bickford.  Banjo hitting shortstop Roy McMillan slugged a two bagger that scored Jerry Lynch and Frank Robinson.  Johnny Temple and Gus Bell followed that up with RBI singles of their own.  Temple had another RBI single in the 8th to give Purkey an insurance run he would not need.

GAME 3 - Braves Field
Braves 2, Reds 1
Cy Young candidate Don Newcombe hooked up in classic pitcher's duel with Chet Nichols.  For the first time all year Newcombe would come out on the short side of the stick as Cincy's offense could not get in gear.  It all looked so hopeful for the Redlegs as they drew first blood with a run in the top of the 1st when Nichols uncorked a wild pitch and Roy McMillan raced home.  Cincy had a chance for a big inning, but Pete Whisenant fanned with runners in scoring position to end it.  Big Newk was nursing his lead until the bottom of the 4th when the Braves scored 2 to take the lead.  Back to back doubles by Earl Torgeson and Walker Cooper tied the game.  A single by Sid Gordan put runners on the corner and a medium fly to right by Bob Elliott put the Braves ahead 2-1.  That would be it on the scoring front as Newk and Nichols began baffling hitters.  Cincy got a 2 out single by McMillan in the top of the 9th, but Jerry Lynch popped out to shallow left to end it and give the Braves a 2-1 edge in the series.

GAME 4 - Braves Field
Braves 5, Reds 3
"The Kitten", Harvey Haddix, was far from "Purr-fect" on this fateful day for the #1 seeded Redlegs.  Boston jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the home half of the second when Bob Elliott hit a 2 run homer.  Cincy tied it up in the 3rd when Haddix led off with a double and scored on a throwing error by his opposing number (Max Sukont).  "Mighty Max" bobbled Vada Pinson’s bouncer that went back through the box.  Instead of eating the ball Surkont made a wild throw over Torgeson's head as Haddix came around to score.  Jerry Lynch doubled to put runners on 2nd and 3rd with 1 out.  A big inning looked to be in the making, but the Reds just  couldn't string some hits together.  They did however score the tying run on a fielder's choice off of Frank Robinson's bat.  Both teams exchanged solo runs in the 5th.  Cincy got theirs off the bat of Frank Robby and Boston got theirs from an RBI double by Sam  Jethroe.  The Braves took the lead for good in the 6th when Willard Marshall doubled home Torgeson with 2 out.  This would prove out to be a huge clutch hit.  Sid Gordon would hit a solo shot in the 8th to provide the Boston pen with a much needed insurance run.  Dave Cole would pitch a scoreless 8th for the Braves in relief of Sukont and George Estock would do the same to notch the save in the 9th and close out the series.

SERIES NOTES:  The underdog Boston Braves defeated the dominant #1 seed Cincinnati Reds in a series that looked much like a mismatch on paper.  Boston manager Terry Priest said in his post game interview, "Cincy dominated the NL this season, but they had a lot of trouble with the Braves all season.  Some teams just don't match up well with others."  For the record the Braves were 5-1 against the Reds in the regular season and 3-1 in the post season for a combined 8-2 dominance of the Redlegs who posted an incredible 25-9 record vs the rest of the National League.  Boston will now head across the border to face the #2 seed Montreal Expos who barely beat the SF Giants in the NLDS.