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 Pat Darcy threw like a Cy Young Award winner as he defeated the 2011 honoree as the Reds beat Houston 2-0 for their fourth straight victory.
Darcy (1-1) tossed a one-hitter with three walks and a pair of strikeouts, while Justin Verlander allowed just three hits and a run over eight innings with nine strikeouts.
The game was scoreless until Darcy’s RBI double in the top of the fifth.
With one out, Dave Concepcion walked and then stole second. He advanced to third on a passed ball and the scored when Darcy smacked his hit.
Darcy didn’t allow a hit by the Astros until Carlos Correa doubled leading off the seventh.
Houston closer Ken Giles worked the ninth and surrendered a homer to Johnny Bench, which was his ninth of the season.
The two teams close out the three-game series as the Reds go for the sweep with Don Gullett (3-1) on the mound.
The Astros will have Dallas Keuchel starting, who lost his earlier appearance against the Reds in a 3-2 decision.
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 (15-5)
1954 Giants (1-1)
1975 Padres (1-2)
1981 Dodgers (2-5)
2017 Astros (1-5)
1957 Braves (0-2)