Editor’s note: How good were the 1975 Cincinnati Reds? The best way to end the speculation is to challenge the team with a 162-game season against some great teams. This is a series that will include each game played with the Strat-o-Matic cards and dice, while hoping to reach the 108-54 record that the Reds had that season. Game stories will be published periodically on Press Room Pass through out the year. What’s your predicted victory total?
Johnny Bench drove in three runs and Tony Perez smacked a three-run homer as Cincinnati posted a 9-5 comeback victory over Los Angeles on Opening Day at Riverfront Stadium.
The Dodgers led 4-0 after Steve Yeager homered off Reds starter Don Gullett in the fourth inning.
In the bottom of the frame, Bench ignited the Cincinnati offense with a two-run triple off Dodgers starter Fernando Valenzuela. George Foster‘s RBI ground out made it 4-3.
A run-scoring single by Cesar Geronimo in the fifth tied the contest.
The three-run blast by Perez in the sixth off Valenzuela would put the Reds on top for good.
Cincinnati’s final scores came in the seventh as Bench and Dave Concepcion each knocked in a run off Dave Goltz.
Dusty Baker‘s RBI single in the eighth was the final tally for the Dodgers.
Gullett (1-0), who left with one out in the eighth, earned the victory. Clay Carroll, Will McEnaney and Rawly Eastwick were called on by Reds manager Sparky Anderson to secure the win.
Valenzuela gave up seven runs on eight hits with seven strikeouts.
Bill Russell‘s sacrifice fly in the second inning gave Los Angeles an early advantage. Pedro Guerrero hit a two-run homer in the third to put the Dodgers ahead 3-0.
Gary Nolan (0-0) will get the start on the mound for the Reds in the second contest of the three-game series, while the Dodgers will counter with Jerry Reuss.
National League Standings
(Records involve games only with Reds)
East Division
1967 Cardinals (0-0)
1969 Mets (0-0)
1971 Pirates (0-0)
1975 Expos (0-0)
2008 Phillies (0-0)
2016 Cubs (0-0)
West Division
1975 Reds (1-0)
1954 Giants (0-0)
1957 Braves (0-0)
1975 Padres (0-0)
2017 Astros (0-0)
1981 Dodgers (0-1)