1975 Reds Replay 29: 1975 Padres

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 completed a three-game sweep of San Diego as the Reds defeated the Padres 3-0 in the series finale to finish the homestand with a 4-2 mark.

Pat Darcy (3-1) tossed his second shutout and complete game of the season as he limited the Padres to three hits with four strikeouts. He blanked Houston 2-0 earlier this year.

Although San Diego starter Brent Strom walked six and gave up six hits in seven innings, he was able to prevent big innings by the Reds, but there were two that were costly.

In the fourth the Reds were able to take advantage of a walk.

With two outs, Strom walked Merv Rettenmund and Doug Flynn followed with a double to set up Bill Plummer. Rather than intentionally walk Plummer to face to Darcy, Padres manager John McNamara would be second guessing himself later. Plummer’s double gave the Reds a 2-0 lead.

Pete Rose drew a bases loaded walk in the sixth for the Reds final run.

Cincinnati faces a team from the National League East for the first time this season as the Reds visit Shea Stadium for a three-game series against the New York Mets.

The opener features a pair of aces as the Reds will have Don Gullett (3-1) on the mound, while the Mets have Tom Seaver scheduled to start.

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 (20-9)
1954 Giants (2-2)
1957 Braves (2-3)
1981 Dodgers (2-5)
2017 Astros (2-5)
1975 Padres (1-5)