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?
It took four games, but San Diego’s Dan Spillner finally got his win against the Cincinnati as the Padres posted a 6-2 victory over the Reds at Riverfront Stadium.
Spillner had no decisions in his first two starts of the season with a loss in his third attempt.
Scattering nine hits during a complete game effort, Spillner fanned nine Reds in the victory.
Tony Perez gave the Reds the lead in the first inning with a solo homer.
The Padres took the lead after a RBI single in the third by Johnny Grubb and a solo homer by Tito Fuentes in the fifth.
The Reds tied it in the bottom of the fifth on a homer by Dave Concepcion.
Bob Davis put the Padres on top with a RBI single in the sixth off Reds starter Jack Billingham (12-6).
The Padres put the game away with three more runs with Will McEnaney on the mound.
Mike Ivie had a sacrifice fly in the seventh, while Fuentes had a two-run single in the eighth.
Pat Darcy (9-5) is slated to start the finale of the two-game set for the Reds as Brent Strom gets the ball from Padres manager John McNamara.
National League Standings
(Records involve games only with Reds)
East Division
1969 Mets (7-5)
2016 Cubs (6-6)
1971 Pirates (5-7)
1967 Cardinals (4-8)
1975 Expos (4-8)
2008 Phillies (2-10)
West Division
1954 Giants (7-4)
1975 Reds (83-53)
2017 Astros (5-8)
1957 Braves (4-7)
1981 Dodgers (5-9)
1975 Padres (4-11)