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 salvaged the final contest of the three-game series in St. Louis with a 2-0 victory over the Cardinals.
Fred Norman (12-9) went the distance as he recorded his second shutout of the season. He also has a combined shutout with Rawly Eastwick.
Norman allowed four hits with two singles by Roger Maris. Lou Brock‘s single in the sixth was the last hit for St. Louis.
The Reds got just three hits off Steve Carlton, who tossed six innings. Nelson Briles and Joe Hoerner held the Reds scoreless over the last three frames.
A two-run single by Tony Perez in the sixth would be the only offense either team could muster.
The shutout was the 11th of the season for Cincinnati, while the Reds have been blanked five times.
After an off day, the Reds head to Pittsburgh for a three-game set against the Pirates.
Jack Billingham (11-5) gets the start for the Reds as Luke Walker will take the mound for the Pirates.
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 (3-5)
2008 Phillies (2-10)
West Division
1954 Giants (7-4)
1975 Reds (76-49)
2017 Astros (5-8)
1957 Braves (4-7)
1981 Dodgers (5-9)
1975 Padres (3-11)