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?
One day after missing opportunities to score and leaving 12 runners on base in a series opening 5-2 loss, Cincinnati’s offense exploded as the Reds beat the Milwaukee Braves 12-4 at Riverfront Stadium.
Although technically a come-from-behind victory after falling behind 4-0, the Reds pounded out 16 hits and four home runs on their way to the win.
The Braves opened the affair with a run in the first inning against Reds starter Pat Darcy (2-1) as Eddie Mathews had a RBI double.
In the top of the second, Johnny Logan‘s three-run double put Milwaukee in front 4-0, but that was all the Braves could muster the rest of the way.
After Braves starter Warren Spahn got a double play to halt a rally in the first frame, he wasn’t as lucky in the next inning as a RBI single by Cesar Geronimo got the Reds on the scoreboard.
Geronimo was at it again in the fourth and this time it was a two-run double that cut the Reds deficit to 4-3.
Cincinnati tied it in the fifth on Joe Morgan‘s solo homer.
With two outs in the sixth, Dan Driessen‘s two-run pinch-hit homer gave the Reds a 6-4 lead in what turned out to be Spahn’s last inning.
Darcy also worked six frames for the Reds as he went on to earn the win. Clay Carroll tossed two scoreless innings before Clay Kirby pitched a perfect ninth.
For the Braves, Juan Pizarro came on in the seventh and allowed a double to Johnny Bench as the Reds failed to score.
That all changed in the eighth as the Reds sent 11 batters to the plate as they scored six times against Pizarro.
Pete Rose and Ken Griffey each drove in a run, before Bench blasted a three-run homer. George Foster ended the scoring with a solo long ball.
Dave Concepcion led the Reds with three hits and a stolen base.
The three-game series comes to a close with the Reds sending Gary Nolan (3-1) to the mound, while the Braves will counter with Lew Burdette.
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 (17-8)
1954 Giants (2-2)
1975 Padres (1-2)
1957 Braves (1-3)
1981 Dodgers (2-5)
2017 Astros (2-5)