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?
A big inning got Cincinnati back on the winning track as the Reds defeated Montreal 10-4 at Riverfront Stadium.
Down 3-1 heading into the bottom of the fourth, the Reds finally came to life offensively with five runs to take the lead for good.
Johnny Bench began the frame with a single against Expos starter Woodie Fryman. George Foster, who hit a solo homer in the second, blasted a two-run bomb.
With the game now tied 3-3, the Reds would keep the rally going as Tony Perez walked. After Merv Rettenmund struck out, Doug Flynn doubled to put runners at second and third.
At this point, Cincinnati manager Sparky Anderson saw an opportunity to get the lead ,so he decided to send Ken Griffey to the plate to bat for Reds starter Fred Norman.
It turned out to be a great decision as Griffey drilled a three-run homer and the Reds went on top 6-3.
The Reds added to their advantage in the fifth as Rettenmund had a RBI single and Flynn made it 8-3 with a sacrifice fly.
Cincinnati didn’t stop its run production. Dave Concepcion homered in the sixth, while Perez had a run-scoring in the seventh.
Norman lasted four innings for the Reds as he gave up three runs on seven hits with three strikeouts and five walks.
The Expos scored twice in the first inning as Jerry White began the contest with a solo homer and Larry Parrish had a RBI single. Parrish had a sacrifice fly in the second.
Pedro Borbon (6-4) worked three scoreless innings to get the win for the Reds. He allowed four hits and had a strikeout. Although not a save situation, Rawly Eastwick tossed the last two innings giving up a run in the eighth on a ground out by Jose Morales.
Jack Billingham (11-3) gets the start for the Reds in the series finale of the three-game set with Dennis Blair taking the mound for the Expos.
National League Standings
(Records involve games only with Reds)
East Division
1971 Pirates (3-2)
1969 Mets (7-5)
2016 Cubs (3-4)
1975 Expos (3-8)
1967 Cardinals (1-4)
2008 Phillies (2-10)
West Division
1954 Giants (7-4)
1975 Reds (72-43)
2017 Astros (5-8)
1957 Braves (4-7)
1981 Dodgers (5-9)
1975 Padres (3-11)