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?
Shea Stadium proved to be an unfriendly place for Cincinnati as the Reds dropped another series with a 4-1 loss to New York in the finale as the Mets took two of the three contests.
Donn Clendenon was the star of the game as he drove in all four of the runs for the Mets.
Clendenon knocked in the initial tally off Reds starter Fred Norman (3-3) with a ground out in the first inning.
In the third, Clendenon virtually ended Norman’s day with a three-run blast that put the Mets on top 4-0. It was Clendenon’s second long ball of the series as he hit a two-run shot in the opening affair.
Mets pitcher Gary Gentry didn’t allow the Reds a run until there were two outs in the ninth when Doug Flynn hit a pinch-hit homer.
Tug McGraw was called on by Mets manager Gil Hodges to get Cesar Geronimo for the final out, which he did to earn the save.
Gentry allowed six hits, walked three and struck out two.
Norman went 3⅓ innings and gave up all four Mets runs on five hits with four walks and four strikeouts.
Clay Carroll worked 2⅔ innings as he held the Mets scoreless. Pedro Borbon tossed two frames and gave up two hits.
Wayne Garrett and Jerry Grote led the Mets with two hits each.
The Reds continue their road trip as they visit Philadelphia for a four-game series.
Jack Billingham (4-0) looks for a team-high fifth victory as he takes the mound for Cincinnati in the opener at Citizens Bank Park, while Kyle Kendrick is expected to start for the Phillies.
National League Standings
(Records involve games only with Reds)
East Division
1969 Mets (2-1)
1967 Cardinals (0-0)
1971 Pirates (0-0)
1975 Expos (0-0)
2008 Phillies (0-0)
2016 Cubs (0-0)
West Division
1975 Reds (21-11)
1954 Giants (2-2)
1957 Braves (2-3)
1981 Dodgers (2-5)
2017 Astros (2-5)
1975 Padres (1-5)