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?
A late rally by the Chicago Cubs prevented the Cincinnati Reds from winning the season series between the two squads.
As a result of Chicago’s 5-4 win over the Reds at Wrigley Field, the two teams finished with six victories each for the season.
With Cincinnati on top 4-2, Reds starter Jack Billingham got in trouble in the eighth as he walked Dexter Fowler and gave up a single to Kris Bryant.
At that point, Reds manager Sparky Anderson brought in left Will McEnaney to face Anthony Rizzo.
The normally reliable Reds hurler gave up back-to-back RBI singles to Rizzo and Ben Zobrist, which tied the game.
McEnaney fanned Addison Russell for the first out of the inning, but Jason Heyward put the Cubs in front with a sacrifice fly.
The first two runs of the frame were charge to Billingham. McEnaney (8-3) not only had a blown save, he would get tagged with the loss as well.
Chicago took an early lead when Fowler homered in the third and Russell tacked on a run-scoring single.
Cesar Geronimo drove in Cincinnati’s first run with a single in the fifth off Cubs starter John Lackey, who would eventually leave after seven.
George Foster‘s three-run blast in the sixth gave the Reds a 4-2 lead.
Travis Wood earned the victory for the Cubs with a perfect eighth inning on the mound.
Aroldis Chapman, gave up a single to Tony Perez in the ninth, but the fire balling lefty slammed the door on the Reds to pick up a save.
The Reds return to Riverfront Stadium to entertain the St. Louis Cardinals in a four-game series.
Rookie Pat Darcy (8-5) gets the call for the Reds, while Larry Jaster will start for the Cardinals.
National League Standings
(Records involve games only with Reds)
East Division
1969 Mets (7-5)
2016 Cubs (6-6)
1971 Pirates (5-7)
1975 Expos (4-8)
1967 Cardinals (3-5)
2008 Phillies (2-10)
West Division
1954 Giants (7-4)
1975 Reds (80-51)
2017 Astros (5-8)
1957 Braves (4-7)
1981 Dodgers (5-9)
1975 Padres (3-11)