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’s bats were silenced as Tom Seaver of the New York Mets surrendered three hits in a dominating performance in a 2-0 victory at Shea Stadium.
Seaver went the distance and fanned four with Dave Concepcion collecting two of the three singles he allowed. Tony Perez had the other hit.
Reds starter Don Gullett was nearly as good as his New York counterpart, but he made a pair of mistakes in the sixth that brokeup the scoreless affair.
Gullett had surendered just two singles to Bud Harrelson when he retired Cleon Jones to begin the sixth.
Tommy Agee smacked the first blunder by Gullett for a double right before the biggest miscue went over the left field fence as Donn Clendenon‘s two-run homer put the Mets on top 2-0.
Gullett didn’t allow another hit before leaving after the seventh. Pedro Borbon worked the eighth for the Reds and he gave up a single to Agee.
In the second game of the three-game set, the Reds look to Gary Nolan (3-2) to even the series as the Mets send Jerry Koosman to the mound.
National League Standings
(Records involve games only with Reds)
East Division
1969 Mets (1-0)
1967 Cardinals (0-0)
1971 Pirates (0-0)
1975 Expos (0-0)
2008 Phillies (0-0)
2016 Cubs (0-0)
West Division
1975 Reds (20-10)
1954 Giants (2-2)
1957 Braves (2-3)
1981 Dodgers (2-5)
2017 Astros (2-5)
1975 Padres (1-5)