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?
Houston’s George Springer set the tone with one swing.
The Astros went on to a 7-2 victory over the Reds to earn a split in the two-games series at Riverfront Stadium.
Spinger’s homer to lead off the game didn’t hold up as the Reds tied it at 1-1 in the bottom of the frame on a RBI single by George Foster, but the Astros didn’t back off.
Alex Bregman followed Spinger in the RBI department with a run-scoring single in the second off Reds starter Jack Billingham (12-9).
After giving up a two-run homer to Josh Reddick in the third, Billingham was pinch-hit for in the bottom of the fourth.
In the fifth, Jose Altuve knocked in a run with a single off Clay Carroll.
The Reds were able to score as Pete Rose raced home on a passed ball by Astros starter Charlie Morton.
The Astros finished the scoring with a pair of solo homers. Bregman hit one offf Carroll in the sixth, while Marwin Gonzalez tagged Pedro Borbon in the eighth.
Pat Darcy (10-6) will start for Cincinnati in Milwaukee as the Reds visit the Braves for a four-game series. Bob Trowbridge gets the ball in the opener for the Braves from manager Fred Haney.
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 (92-60)
1957 Braves (4-7)
2017 Astros (6-9)
1981 Dodgers (7-11)
1975 Padres (4-14)