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?
A Pedro Borbon meltdown in the eighth inning allowed Houston to comeback to defeat Cincinnati 4-3 and end the Reds four-game winning streak.
The Reds led 2-1 heading into the bottom of the eighth in the pitching dual between Cincinnati’s Don Gullett and Houston’s Dallas Keuchel.
With one out, Gullett allowed singles to George Springer and Alex Bregman. A walk to Jose Altuve ended the day for Gullett.
Reds manager Sparky Anderson called on Borbon to stop the rally. It didn’t work.
Borbon gave up a RBI single to Carlos Correa that kept the bases loaded and tied it at 1-1.
Yuli Gurriel singled to drive in two more runs to put the Astros on top 4-2 and Borbon was done.
Will McEnaney entered the contest and retired the next two hitters to send the game to the ninth.
However, Keuchel was out of gas as he walked Merv Rettenmund and Bill Plummer forcing Houston manager AJ Hinch to look took closer Ken Giles.
Giles got pinch-hitter Ken Griffey to hit into a double play that moved Rettenmund to third.
Pete Rose blasted a triple to score Rettenmund. Giles was then able to get Joe Morgan to fly to center to earn a save.
Neither team scored until the fifth inning.
Morgan hit a two-run homer for the Reds, while Carlos Beltran blasted a solo shot for the Astros.
The Reds return home to play the New York Giants in a two-game series as Gary Nolan (3-0) looks to remain undefeated.
The Giants will have ace Johnny Antonelli on the mound.
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 (15-6)
1954 Giants (1-1)
1975 Padres (1-2)
1981 Dodgers (2-5)
2017 Astros (2-5)
1957 Braves (0-2)