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 fast start by the New York Giants was too much for Cincinnati to overcome as the Reds fell 7-3, which was the first time they have lost two in a row this season.
Don Mueller hit a two-run homer in the first off Reds starter Gary Nolan (3-1), who lost for the first time.
The Giants had two more long balls in the third to build a 5-0 advantage. Whitey Lockman had a solo shot, while Willie Mays drove in two with a blast.
Cincinnati got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the third as Cesar Geronimo homered off Giants starter Johnny Antonelli.
Hank Thompson added another run for the Giants in the sixth with a RBI single in Nolan’s final frame on the mound.
The last run for the Giants was in the eighth as Antonelli doubled to produce the score.
On the mound, Antonelli would give up two more runs as he earned the victory.
The first was on a homer by Tony Perez in the seventh. The last tally for the Reds came in the eighth on a run-scoring double by Ken Griffey that ended Antonelli’s day.
Hoyt Wilhelm got the last four outs, but didn’t earn a save.
The Reds and Giants finish their two-game series as Fred Norman (1-2) is set to start for Cincinnati and he will be opposed by Ruben Gomez.
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 (15-7)
1954 Giants (2-1)
1975 Padres (1-2)
1981 Dodgers (2-5)
2017 Astros (2-5)
1957 Braves (0-2)