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 came to life as the Reds ended a three-game losing streak with a 9-0 victory over the Milwaukee Braves.
The Reds got on the scoreboard early against Braves starter Lew Burdette with four runs in the top of the first.
Pete Rose began the frame with a double and Ken Griffey walked.
Joe Morgan and George Foster had RBI singles, Dave Concepcion added a two-run double to put the Reds in front 4-0.
Burdette didn’t make it out of the sixth as the Reds score four more runs.
Cesar Geronimo and Griffey each had a run-scoring single to end the game for Burdette.
Morgan was walked by Juan Pizarro with the bases loaded. The final tally came when Johnny Bench grounded into a double play with the bases still jammed.
Reds starter Gary Nolan (17-10) left in the mound after Wes Covington tripled to begin the ninth. In eight innings, Nolan allowed nine hits with just one strikeout as he kept the Braves off balance.
Clay Kirby came on in the ninth to get the final three outs for the Reds.
With the win, the second-place Reds are now at .600 in winning percentage with seven games left in the season. The New York Giants lead the National League West (.611).
Fred Norman (16-10) will start for the Reds in the series finale of the four-game set, while Bob Buhl goes to the hill 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 (93-62)
1957 Braves (6-8)
2017 Astros (6-9)
1981 Dodgers (7-11)
1975 Padres (4-14)