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?
For the first time this season, Cincinnati lost a series.
Tied at one game apiece, the Milwaukee Braves used a late rally to post a 6-2 victory over the Reds in the series finale at Riverfront Stadium.
The Braves trailed 2-0 heading into the seventh against Reds starter Gary Nolan (3-2).
After two were out, Nolan failed to field a grounder by Milwaukee’s Red Schoendienst. Del Crandall followed with a single to keep the Braves hopes alive.
Pinch-hitter Andy Pafko singled to drive in Schoendienst to make it 2-1 as Nolan was sent to the showers by Reds manager Sparky Anderson.
Will McEnaney was unable to shut down the Braves as he surrendered back-to-back RBI singles to Bill Bruton and Johnny Logan to give Milwaukee a 3-2 advantage.
The Braves added two more runs in the eighth off Pedro Borbon as Frank Torre had a RBI triple and Schoendienst produced the other score with a single.
In the ninth against Rawly Eastwick, Eddie Mathews doubled to knock in the last run for the Braves.
Lew Burdette went six innings to get the win for Milwaukee as he gave up two runs in the first inning and allowed five hits. Johnny Bench had a two-run double in the bottom of the first, which provided Cincinnati’s offensive output for the contest.
Ernie Johnson earned the save for the Braves as he held the Reds scoreless over the final three frames.
Cincinnati opens a three-game series at home against San Diego as Fred Norman (2-2) takes the mound for the Reds, while Dave Freisleben is scheduled to start for the Padres.
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 (17-9)
1954 Giants (2-2)
1957 Braves (2-3)
1975 Padres (1-2)
1981 Dodgers (2-5)
2017 Astros (2-5)