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?
Los Angeles finished off a two-game series sweep of Cincinnati as the Dodgers posted a 4-3 victory over the Reds.
The Reds were able to win the season series over the Dodgers with an 11-7 record.
Pete Rose led off the contest with a homer off Dodgers starter Bob Welch.
The Dodgers were able to tie the affair at 1-1 in the bottom of the third on a RBI single by Dusty Baker.
In the sixth, the Dodgers scored twice off Billingham to take a 3-1 lead. Ron Cey homered and Mike Scioscia added a sacrifice fly.
Billingham (12-8) was replaced in the eighth by Clay Carroll, who surrendered a homer to Rick Monday to begin the frame. Carroll gave up three more hits to lead the bases before Pedro Borbon came on to stop the rally without allowing another run.
Welch only faced two hitters in the ninth. Joe Morgan reached on an error and Johnny Bench smacked a two-run homer that ended the day for Welch.
Steve Howe gave up a single to give the Reds some hoped, but the lefty retired the next three batters to earn a save.
Next up for the Reds is a four-game series at the Polo Grounds against the New York Giants.
Pat Darcy (10-5) gets the start for the Reds, while the Giants counter with Don Liddle.
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 (89-57)
2017 Astros (5-8)
1957 Braves (4-7)
1981 Dodgers (7-11)
1975 Padres (4-14)