4/9/84: Reds snap 4-game losing streak, hold off Expos, 6-4

 The Reds got three doubles from Ron Oester and home runs from Dann Bilardello and Nick Esasky, making them hold up despite a spirited Expos rally, hanging on to beat Montreal, 6-4. 

The Reds struck 1st in the bottom of the 2nd when Duane Walker and Oester slugged back-to-back doubles with 1 out, giving the Reds a 1-0 lead which later swelled to 3-0 on Bilardello's 1st home run of the season. Montreal got a run off of Reds starter Jeff Russell in the 4th when Bryan Little's lead-off double was cashed in by Mike Stenhouse. The Reds chased Expos starter Bill Gullickson in the 6th on a lead-off homer by Nick Esasky, a single by Duane Walker and Ron Oester's 3rd double of the game which scored Walker from 1st. Jeff Russell singled home Oester to make the score 6-1 after 6.

Russell would run out of gas in the 8th when Montreal made their last-ditch move, starting with Angel Salazar's lead-off single. After Max Venable flied to left, Pete Rose singled Salazar to 3rd, setting up a sac fly from Bryan Little, making the score 6-2. Ted Power relieved Russell in the 8th and sweated out an Expos 9th inning rally, starting with Gary Carter's lead-off homer. Tim Wallach struck out for the 3rd time in 4 at-bats, then Terry Francona doubled and promptly scored on pinch-hitter Miguel Dilone's double. 

After Venable flied again to left, Andre Dawson, who had the night off, pinch-hit for reliever Bob James and hit a very deep fly ball to Dave Parker at right, Parker just catching it right at the wall. Russell hung on for the win, Gullickson taking the loss and Ted Power just hanging on for the hard-earned save.

WP-Russell (1-0) LP-Gullickson (0-2) SV-Power (1) HR-Bilardello (1) Esasky (1) Carter (2) CIN 2-4 MON 2-4

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