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?
Pitching continues to be a dominant force behind Cincinnati’s early season success as the Reds now sport an 8-3 record.
Gary Nolan (2-0) worked eight innings before giving way in the ninth to Will McEnaney, who earned his second save in the 3-2 Reds win over Houston.
Nolan limited the Astros to four hits with four strikeouts. McEnaney gave up a hit that allowed a run to score, but coaxed a double play to get out of trouble.
Pete Rose hit his first homer of the season in the third off Houston starter Dallas Keuchel to put the Reds on top 1-0.
In the fifth, Joe Morgan‘s RBI double made it 2-0.
Both teams scored in the seventh, with Yuli Gurriel knocking in a run with a single for the Astros and Ken Griffey adding a RBI single for the Reds.
The final tally for Houston came in the ninth as Nolan walked Josh Reddick to begin the frame.
McEnaney took over on the mound and gave up a run-scoring single to Jose Altuve. The Reds lefty got Carlos Correa to hit into a double play and then he ended the contest when Marwin Gonzalez grounded out.
Keuchel went seven innings as he gave up there runs on seven hits with three strikeouts. Chris Devenski worked a perfect eight for the Astros.
Fred Norman (0-2) looks for his first victory of the season as the Reds entertain Houston in the second contest of the four-game series as the Astros will have Brad Peacock on the mound.
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 (8-3)
1954 Giants (0-0)
1957 Braves (0-0)
1975 Padres (1-2)
1981 Dodgers (2-5)
2017 Astros (0-1)