Unfortunately, this success did not carry into the post season. Trailing Cincinnati's "Big Red Machine" two games to one in the 1976 National League Championship Series, the Phillies jumped to a 3–0 lead in game three of the series. Manager Danny Ozark handed Reed the ball in the seventh inning with runners on first and second with no outs. He allowed both inherited runners to score, as well as giving up two more runs to allow Cincinnati to take a 4–3 lead. The Phillies battled back to recapture a 6–4 lead, however, Reed surrendered back-to-back home runs to George Foster and Johnny Bench to lead off the ninth. Five batters later, Ken Griffey's bases loaded single off Tom Underwood completed the three-game sweep for the Reds.