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?
Johnny Bench for Most Valuable Player.
If the balloting was held after three weeks, it’s likely the Bench would claim the award. So far this season, Bench has eight homers and 25 RBI having played in 16 of Cincinnati’s 18 contests.
Despite blowing a four-run lead, the Reds were able to come out on top with a 7-6 victory over Milwaukee in 12 innings.
Bench drilled a two-run homer in the decisive frame off Braves reliever Juan Pizarro.
Rose Gives Reds Lead
Pete Rose led off the game with a homer against Milwaukee starter Gene Conley.
In the second, Tony Perez tagged Conley for a solo shot.
The Reds went ahead 4-0 in the fourth on a run-scoring single by Rose and a RBI double by Ken Griffey.
Red Schoendienst got the Braves on the scoreboard with a homer off Cincinnati starter Fred Norman.
Conley was charged with an unearned run in the seventh, which was his final inning as the Reds led 5-1.
Norman got in trouble in the eighth as he left with one out and runners on first and second.
Reds manager Sparky Anderson called on Clay Carroll to stop the Milwaukee uprising.
It didn’t work. Johnny Logan singled to load the bases.
With one mighty swing, Eddie Mathews blasted a grand slam to tie the game at 5-5.
Pedro Borbon (1-0) took Carroll’s place and was able to hault the rally and eventually earn his first win of the season.
Neither team could muster a threat until the 12th.
Morgan kept the Reds hopes alive as he doubled with two outs in the 12th. Bench followed with his long ball to make it 7-6.
The Braves were not done as they faced Rawly Eastick in the bottom of the 12th.
Logan got things started with a leadoff triple. He scored on a ground out by Mathews.
Hank Aaron and Andy Pafko both singled to keep the Braves in the game, but Eastwick was able to get pinch-hitter Wes Covington to ground to Perez at first to earn his sixth save.
Cincinnati continues its road trip as the Reds head to Houston for three-game series. Jack Billingham (3-0) starts for the Reds, while Lance McCullers Jr. will be on the mound for the Astros.
National League Standings
(Records involve games only with Reds)
East Division
1967 Cardinals (0-0)
1969 Mets (0-0)
1971 Pirates (0-0)
1975 Expos (0-0)
2008 Phillies (0-0)
2016 Cubs (0-0)
West Division
1975 Reds (13-5)
1954 Giants (1-1)
1975 Padres (1-2)
1981 Dodgers (2-5)
2017 Astros (1-3)
1957 Braves (0-2)