1975 Reds Replay 112: 1954 Giants

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?

More extra innings at the Polo Grounds.

This time, the Cincinnati Reds and New York Giants would only next one additional frame to get to a winner.

Back-to-back RBI singles in the top of the 10th inning proved to be the difference for the Reds as they beat the Giants 2-1.

New York starter Don Liddle needed help from Marv Grissom in the ninth to keep the Reds scoreless.

It was Grissom that got the loss after allowing two runs in the 10th.

Joe Morgan walked and stole second to begin the 10th for Cincinnati and Tony Perez followed with a free pass.

After Grissom retired George Foster and Merv Rettenmund, Bench and Flynn picked up their hits.

In the bottom of the 10th with Rawly Eastwick on the mound for the Reds, Al Dark singled and then scored when Willie Mays hit into a double play that erased Don Mueller, who had single for the third hit of the game by the Giants.

Eastwick earned his 17th save when he induced Hank Thompson to fly to center to ending the affair as the Reds evened the three-game series and one contest apiece.

Pat Darcy started for Cincinnati and went six innings giving up just one hit in the fifth by Mays. Pedro Borbon tossed a pair scoreless innings, while Will McEnaney (7-2) pitched a perfect ninth to get the win.

Don Gullett (15-4) will get the start for Cincinnati in the series finale with Johnny Antonelli climbing the hill for the Giants.

National League Standings
(Records involve games only with Reds)

East Division
1971 Pirates (3-2)
1969 Mets (7-5)
2016 Cubs (3-4)
1975 Expos (2-7)
1967 Cardinals (1-4)
2008 Phillies (2-10)

West Division
1975 Reds (71-41)
1954 Giants (6-4)
2017 Astros (5-8)
1957 Braves (4-7)
1981 Dodgers (5-9)
1975 Padres (3-11)