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’s Don Gullett got closer to the magical 20-win mark as the Reds defeated the San Diego Padres 4-0.
Gullett (19-6) pitched six innings giving up four hits withe five strikeouts before exiting due to a leg injury he suffered at the plate in the top of the seventh.
Reds manager Sparky Anderson said removing Gullett was a precautionary move and his ace lefty is expected to be ready for his next start.
The opener of the two-game series was scoreless until the top of the sixth when a RBI single by Johnny Bench off Padres starter Randy Jones gave the Reds a 1-0 lead.
The Reds added two more runs in the seventh against Jones. George Foster began the frame with a homer.
Merv Rettenmund tripled and then scored on a single by Dave Concepcion.
In the eighth, Tony Perez knocked in the final run for the Reds with a double off reliever Danny Frisella.
Will McEnaney worked the seventh and eighth for the Reds, while Clay Carroll tossed the ninth and gave up a hit.
Gary Nolan (14-10) gets the start for the Reds in the series finale, while Dave Freisleben takes the mound for the Padres.
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 (9-5)
1975 Reds (88-55)
2017 Astros (5-8)
1957 Braves (4-7)
1981 Dodgers (5-11)
1975 Padres (4-13)