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?
Cincinnati dropped its second straight game in St. Louis as the Cardinals beat the Reds 5-2 in Busch Stadium.
Rookie right-hander Dick Hughes tossed a complete game in the win as he limited the Reds to six hits with five strikeouts.
The Cardinals got the scoreboard early with three runs in the second inning.
Julian Javier hit a two-run homer, while Hughes capped the rally with a RBI single.
Pete Rose got the Reds closer with a two-run single in the top of the fifth.
With two outs in the seventh, Lou Brock singled and stole second before he scored in a single by Curt Flood.
One inning later, Bobby Tolan tripled to begin the frame and then came home on a sacrifice fly by Phil Gagliano.
Gary Nolan (12-9) went six innings for the Reds as he took the loss, while giving up three runs on seven hits. Clay Carroll surrendered the other two runs to the Cardinals.
Fred Norman (11-9) takes the mound in the finale of the three-game series for Cincinnati. Steve Carlton is slated to start for the Cardinals.
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 (3-4)
2008 Phillies (2-10)
West Division
1954 Giants (7-4)
1975 Reds (75-49)
2017 Astros (5-8)
1957 Braves (4-7)
1981 Dodgers (5-9)
1975 Padres (3-11)