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 offense powered the Reds to a third straight victory in a 13-5 win over the Houston Astros in the opener of a two-game series at Riverfront Stadium.
Cameron Maybin‘s RBI double in the second inning off Reds starter Fred Norman gave the Astros what turned out to be a brief 1-0 lead.
The Reds scored five times in the bottom of the frame against Astros starting pitcher Brad Peacock to take the lead for good.
The Reds were helped by a pair of Houston errors to go along with a RBI single by Ken Griffey and a two-run single by George Foster.
Norman (16-10), who would struggle early in the contest, gave up three runs in the third on a RBI single by Carlos Correa and a two-run homer by Yuli Gurriel.
After reaching base twice on errors, Pete Rose had a RBI double in the third to give the Reds a 6-4 advantage and end Peacock’s day.
Cesar Geronimo‘s two-run single off Luke Gregerson in the fourth made it 8-4.
In the top of the fifth, Marwin Gonzalez knocked in Houston’s final tally with a double.
A pair of homers added to Cincinnati’s lead as the Reds put the game away. Dave Concepcion hit a two-run bomb in the sixth, while Joe Morgan hit a three-run blast in the seventh.
Norman gave up 16 hits, but was able to limit the damage in most of his eight innings on the mound. He also fanned five and walked five.
Pedro Borbon tossed the ninth for the Reds and surrendered a hit.
Next up for the Reds in the series finale will be Jack Billingham (12-8), while the Astros counter with Charlie Morton.
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 (92-59)
1957 Braves (4-7)
2017 Astros (5-9)
1981 Dodgers (7-11)
1975 Padres (4-14)