Perhaps everyone but owner Marge Schott realized what the Cincinnati Reds’ sweep meant: They’re a special team.

The Reds claimed a kinship with their 1990 playoff predecessor Friday night by proving they know how to sweep, and sweep impressively. They beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 10-1 to advance to the N.L. Championship Series with as little trouble as possible.

Ron Gant and Bret Boone homered off an unsettled Hideo Nomo, and Mark Lewis hit the first pinch grand slam in playoff history as the Reds swept the best-of-five series.

While players hugged and headed for another clubhouse spray, Schott walked off the field with her St. Bernard in tow wondering exactly what it meant.

“What did I win? Did I win another championship?” she asked a companion.

Not yet, Marge. But you’re one step closer.

Cincinnati will play either Atlanta or Colorado in the N.L. Championship Series beginning next Tuesday at Riverfront Stadium. The N.L. Central champions have home-field advantage for the best-of-seven series.

The Dodgers suffered only their second sweep in 27 postseason series since 1916.

Whatever chance the Dodgers had of avoiding sweep No. 2 disappeared into the damp evening air on three swings of the bat.

Gant hit a two-run homer in the third and Boone hit a solo shot in the fourth off Nomo to put the Reds up 3-1. Lewis then clinched it with his first grand slam off Mark Guthrie in the sixth.

There have been 16 other pinch homers in playoff history, none a grand slam.