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?
Finally.
With a doubleheader sweep, the Cincinnati Reds ended a four-game losing streak against the New York Giants.
The Reds took the first game 5-2 before winning the second contest 4-0 at the Polo Grounds. Even with the two victories, the Reds had a 7-11 record in the season series against the Giants.
Reds starter Clay Kirby (1-5) earned his first win of the season in the opener. He worked eight innings allowing six hits with three strikeouts. Rawly Eastwick picked up his 20th save with a perfect ninth.
Cincinnati had a quick start with a pair of runs in the first inning against Giants starter Jim Hearn.
Dan Driessen had a RBI single, while Bill Plummer drove in the second run on a fielder’s choice.
The advantage didn’t last long as the Giants tied the affair with two runs in the bottom of the first.
Willie Mays had a run-scoring triple and he later came home on a double by Monte Irvin. From that point, Kirby gave up just three more hits until leaving the mound.
Driessen had an answer for Cincinnati in the second with a two-run double to put the Reds up 4-2.
Pete Rose knocked in the final run of the game with a double in the ninth.
Game Two
Gary Nolan (16-10) and Will McEnaney combined to blank the Giants. Nolan gave up three hits with two strikeouts in seven innings. McEnaney fanned a pair as he tossed two hitless frames to finish off the Giants.
The Reds broke open a scoreless affair with three runs in the fourth inning off Giants starter Ruben Gomez.
Johnny Bench got it started with a sacrifice fly before George Foster drove in a run with a triple. Tony Perez finished the rally with a RBI single.
In the fourth, Joe Morgan knocked in the last run for the Reds with a single.
The Reds return to Riverfront Stadium for a brief two-game homestand against the Houston Astros.
Fred Norman (15-10) gets the start for Cincinnati in the first contest, while Brad Peacock is scheduled to take the mound for the Astros.
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 (11-7)
1975 Reds (91-59)
2017 Astros (5-8)
1957 Braves (4-7)
1981 Dodgers (7-11)
1975 Padres (4-14)