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?
There was plenty of offense from The Big Red Machine as Cincinnati claimed the finale of the three-game series in Pittsburgh with an 11-6 win over the Pirates at Three Rivers Stadium.
The win also gave the Reds a 7-5 edge in the season series between the two National League rivals.
Cincinnati scored in the first three frames to build a 4-0 advantage against Pirates starter Steve Blass.
Johnny Bench had a sacrifice fly in the first and Pete Rose added a two-run single in the second. Tonly Perez had a RBI single in the third.
In the sixth, the Reds sent Blass to the showers as they scored five times to make it 9-0.
Rose got it started with a sacrifice fly and Bench follwed with a two-run double.
Pittsburgh manager Danny Murtaugh called in Nelson Briles from the bullpen for the third straight game. Unlike the previous two outings, Briles gave up a single to score a run. An error by Gene Alley allowed the fifth run to come home.
Foster’s RBI triple and another unearned run in the eighth off Dave Giusti gave the Reds an 11-0 lead.
Gullett (16-6), who had blanked the Pirates on three hits, got tired in the ninth.
Bob Robertson walked and Manny Sanguillen singled to begin the inning. After retiring Bill Mazeroski on a fly ball, Gullett’s day would end when Alley tripled.
Reds manager Sparky Anderson brought in Clay Kirby, who got pinch-hitter Richie Hebner on a grounder to first.
From that point, Anderson would soon be looking for another pitcher as Kirby gave up a single to Dave Cash, a walk to Gene Clines and a three-run homer to Roberto Clemente.
Anderson picked Will McEnaney to face Willie Stargell. Stargell singled and the Reds manager was back at the mound.
Rawly Eastwick ended what was beginning to become a nightmare for the Reds as he fanned Robertson for the final out.
Next up for the Reds is a trip to Chicago for a three-game set.
Gary Nolan (12-9) starts the opener for the Reds at Wrigley Field as Jake Arrieta will go for the Cubs.
National League Standings
(Records involve games only with Reds)
East Division
1969 Mets (7-5)
2016 Cubs (5-4)
1971 Pirates (5-7)
1975 Expos (4-8)
1967 Cardinals (3-6)
2008 Phillies (2-10)
West Division
1954 Giants (7-4)
1975 Reds (78-50)
2017 Astros (5-8)
1957 Braves (4-7)
1981 Dodgers (5-9)
1975 Padres (3-11)