1975 Reds Replay 148: 1954 Giants

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?

Four in a row for the New York Giants.

With a come-from-behind 5-3 victory at the Polo Grounds, the Giants have now won four straight contests against the Cincinnati Reds.

New York also prevented Reds starter Don Gullett from becoming a 20-game winner. The Giants now lead the season series 11-5.

Like the opener of the four-game series, the Reds took a 1-0 lead as George Foster had a sacrifice fly in the first inning.

The advantage didn’t last as Giants scored twice in the bottom of the first off Gullett (19-7).

Al Dark tied it with a RBI double and Hank Thompson added a sacrifice fly.

Foster tagged Giants starter Johnny Antonelli for a two-run homer in the fourth to give the Reds the lead again at 3-2.

The Reds remained on top until the bottom of the eighth when Gullett faltered.

With one out Willie Mays and Thompson had singles, which brought out Reds pitching coach Larry Shepard.

A three-run homer by Monte Irvin had Reds manager Sparky Anderson heading to the mound to take out dejected Gullett.

Clay Carroll ended the inning, but the damage was done.

Antonelli didn’t benefit from as the rally as he worked seven innings.

Marv Grissom tossed the final frames to get the win.

The two teams close out their season series with a doubleheader.

The Reds have Clay Kirby (0-5) and Gary Nolan (15-10) slated to start, while the Giants counter with Jim Hearn and Ruben Gomez.

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 (11-5)
1975 Reds (89-59)
2017 Astros (5-8)
1957 Braves (4-7)
1981 Dodgers (7-11)
1975 Padres (4-14)