The Big Red Machine took on anybody and everybody in the clubhouse, no matter the seriousness or negativity of the moment. In Tony Perez's case, it was an 0-for-14 slump that was only eight hitless at-bats from tying a World Series record.

        There were all sorts of pregame references to it by his teammates, including a comment that maybe it was time for Doggie to be put out to pasture.

        Even Reds manager Sparky Anderson got into the act, suggesting to Perez he might be pressing.

        “I not pressing,” Perez told him. “I just in a slump. I too old to be pressing.”

        Perez laughed off everything — he had been on the other side of these barbs more than once — and then went out and took care of the ribbers with some good, old-fashioned RBI.

        After making his 15th consecutive out in the second inning, Perez tied the game 1-1 with a homer in the fourth off Reggie Cleveland. In the sixth, Perez hit a three-run home run, and the Reds won going away 6-2.

        The Reds' Don Gullett pitched superbly, giving up only two hits for eight innings.

        — John Erardi

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