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?
Don Gullett is stuck.
For the second straight outing, the Cincinnati lefty failed in his attempt to win his 20th game.
The Milwaukee Braves spoiled Gullett’s effort as the Reds dropped a 3-2 decision at County Stadium.
Gullett (19-8) worked seven innings allowing just four hits with seven strikeouts. Rawly Eastwick worked a scoreless eight for the Reds.
The problem for Gullett was that one of the hits was a two-run homer by Hank Aaron in the bottom of the first.
Both teams scored in the sixth as Johnny Bench‘s RBI single cut Cincinnati’s deficit in half at 2-1.
Johnny Logan answered for the Braves with a run-scoring single to make it 3-1.
For the Braves, Warren Spahn was up to the task of matching Gullett as he held the Reds to five hits with four strikeouts as he went the distance for the win.
Cincinnati scored it’s final run in the ninth. Merv Rettenmund tripled as Braves left fielder Andy Pafko misplayed the drive down the line.
With Rettenmund at third, Spahn fanned Dave Concepcion to end the threat.
Still in Second
With their third loss in a row, the Reds remain in second place in the National League West behind the New York Giants (.611).
Cincinnati’s winning percentage is .597 with eight games left.
Gary Nolan (16-10) gets the start for the Reds in the third contest of the four-game series, while Lew Burdette will be on the mound for the Braves.
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 (92-62)
1957 Braves (6-7)
2017 Astros (6-9)
1981 Dodgers (7-11)
1975 Padres (4-14)