The "Big Red Machine" won 102 games and coasted to the post season. Merritt won game two of the Reds' three game sweep of the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 1970 National League Championship Series, however, Merritt and the Reds were less successful in the World Series against the Baltimore Orioles. The O's defeated the Reds in five games. Merritt started the decisive game, and gave up three earned runs in 1.2 innings of work to take the loss.