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?
Pittsburgh scored early off Cincinnati starter Jack Billingham as the Pirates were able to post a 4-2 win over the Reds at Riverfront Stadium.
Pirates starter Luke Walker kept the Reds offense in check as he allowed a pair of runs on six hits with five strikeouts before leaving the mound with one out in the ninth.
The Pirates got on the scoreboard in the first as Dave Cash came home as Roberto Clemente grounded into a double play.
In the second, Al Oliver homered to put the Pirates on top 2-0.
With his first of four hits, Jackie Hernandez knocked in a run with a single in the fourth.
The Reds scored in the bottom of the frame on a RBI single by Johnny Bench.
Billingham (11-5) was done in the eighth after he walked two with one out. Clay Carroll fanned Bob Robertson before surrendering a run-scoring single by Oliver for Pittsbugh’s final tally.
Cincinnati posed a threat against Walker in the ninth.
Morgan singled and then swiped second for his second stolen base of the contest.
After Bench grounded out to Walker, Tony Perez drove in Morgan with a single.
Pittsburgh manager Danny Murtaugh brought in Dave Giusti with the tying run at the plate. Giusti earned a save as he retired George Foster on a double play to end the game.
The Reds will have rookie Pat Darcy (8-5) on the mound in the finale of the four-game series between the two clubs, while Pittsburgh has Bob Moose scheduled to start.
National League Standings
(Records involve games only with Reds)
East Division
1969 Mets (7-5)
2016 Cubs (5-4)
1971 Pirates (4-4)
1975 Expos (4-8)
1967 Cardinals (1-4)
2008 Phillies (2-10)
West Division
1954 Giants (7-4)
1975 Reds (74-47)
2017 Astros (5-8)
1957 Braves (4-7)
1981 Dodgers (5-9)
1975 Padres (3-11)