1975 Reds Replay 122: 1971 Pirates

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?

Dave Concepcion sent the fans at Cincinnati’s Riverfront Stadium home happy as the shortstop delivered a walk-off blast that gave the Reds a 5-3 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates.

With one out in the bottom of the ninth against Pittsburgh starter Bob Moose, Tony Perez doubled just before Concepcion hit a homer to end the contest.

Cincinnati took three of four contests against the Pirates to salvage something from a nine-game homestand that had the Reds posting a 4-5 mark.

Pittsburgh grabbed a 3-0 in the third inning against Reds starter Pat Darcy, which would be the only inning that the Pirates would score.

Al Oliver knocked in the first run with a double before Gene Alley drove in two more with a triple.

The Reds began their comeback in the fourth with back-to-back RBI singles from George Foster and Tony Perez.

Cesar Geronimo smacked a solo homer in the fifth to tie the contest at 3-3.

Darcy allowed eight hits with five strikeouts as he was looking for a complete game in the ninth.

However, after getting two outs Darcy walked Roberto Clemente and that would be his last hitter.

Reds manager Sparky Anderson called Will McEnaney (8-2) from the bullpen to face Willie Stargell. The Reds lefty picked up the victory as he retired the Pittsburgh slugger on a deep fly ball to right to set the stage for Concepcion’s game-winner.

Next up for Cincinnati is a trip to St. Louis for a three-game series at Busch Stadium.

The Reds send Don Gullett (15-6) to the mound, while the Cardinals will have ace Bob Gibson going in the opener.

National League Standings
(Records involve games only with Reds)

East Division
1969 Mets (7-5)
2016 Cubs (5-4)
1971 Pirates (4-5)
1975 Expos (4-8)
1967 Cardinals (1-4)
2008 Phillies (2-10)

West Division
1954 Giants (7-4)
1975 Reds (75-47)
2017 Astros (5-8)
1957 Braves (4-7)
1981 Dodgers (5-9)
1975 Padres (3-11)