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?
All of the action was in the first inning as Cincinnati was able to even its three game series in New York with a 3-2 victory over the Mets at Shea Stadium.
After Mets starter Jerry Koosman got Pete Rose to fly out, the Reds were able muster enough offense that would last the entire contest.
Joe Morgan walked and then Johnny Bench reached on an error by Mets shortstop Bud Harrelson.
George Foster deposited a Koosman offering over the left field fence and the Reds were on top 3-0.
Koosman ended up with a complete game allowing just six hits as he struck out nine.
Gary Nolan also experienced some trouble in his first inning of work.
Nolan walked Harrelson and Wayne Garrett hit into a double play, but that’s when the problem began.
Cleon Jones hit a double and then Tommy Agee blasted a homer to cut the Mets deficit to 3-2.
From that point, Nolan (4-2) matched Koosman’s effort to get the victory. He gave up six hits and fanned five.
Fred Norman (3-2) will be on the mound for the Reds in the series finale, while Gary Gentry gets the start for the Mets.
National League Standings
(Records involve games only with Reds)
East Division
1969 Mets (1-1)
1967 Cardinals (0-0)
1971 Pirates (0-0)
1975 Expos (0-0)
2008 Phillies (0-0)
2016 Cubs (0-0)
West Division
1975 Reds (21-10)
1954 Giants (2-2)
1957 Braves (2-3)
1981 Dodgers (2-5)
2017 Astros (2-5)
1975 Padres (1-5)