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 Reds manager Sparky Anderson likes to use his bullpen.
Anderson wasn’t very happy with the performance of Will McEnaney and Clay Carroll in the eighth inning as the Reds fell 4-2 to Philadelphia in the second contest of a four-game series at Citizens Bank Park.
The Reds were clinging to a 2-1 advantage when starter Pat Darcy gave up a single to Shane Victorino to begin the eighth.
Although running out of gas, Darcy was helped by Johnny Bench as he threw out Victorino trying to steal second.
Darcy couldn’t keep the momentum going as he walked Chase Utley, which prompted Anderson to call on McEnaney to face Ryan Howard.
McEnaney fanned Howard, who struck out for the third time in the game. However, McEnaney walked Jayson Werth to put runners at first and second forcing Anderson into another slow walk to the mound.
The usually reliable Carroll had Anderson shaking is head as he gave up a RBI double to Pat Burrell, which tied it at 2-2.
Pedro Feliz followed with the fatal blow as he knocked in two runs with a single with what proved to be the game-winning hit. McEnaney (2-1) suffered his first loss of the season.
Darcy went 7⅓ innings and gave up five hits with six strikeouts, but six walks hurt his cause.
The Reds took an early lead against Phillies starter Adam Eaton on a sacrifice fly in the first by George Foster, who was also injured on the play.
Eaton gave up a solo homer in the fourth to Merv Rettenmund, who went to left field for Foster. Eaton tossed seven innings giving up four hits with three strikeouts, while walking six.
Chad Durbin picked up the victory despite giving up a hit and a walk in the eighth before he struck out Cesar Geronimo to end the threat.
The Reds still had some life in the ninth as Ken Griffey doubled with two outs in the ninth off Philadelphia closer Brad Lidge.
Lidge intentionally walked Joe Morgan before he retired Bench on a line drive to Feliz at third to earn a save.
Even though he struggled with the bat, Howard did manage to connect for a solo homer in the fourth off Darcy for Philadelphia’s first run of the contest.
The four-game series resumes with Don Gullett (3-2) getting the ball from Anderson in the third contest with Cole Hamels starting for the Phillies.
National League Standings
(Records involve games only with Reds)
East Division
1969 Mets (2-1)
2008 Phillies (1-1)
1967 Cardinals (0-0)
1971 Pirates (0-0)
1975 Expos (0-0)
2016 Cubs (0-0)
West Division
1975 Reds (22-12)
1954 Giants (2-2)
1957 Braves (2-3)
1981 Dodgers (2-5)
2017 Astros (2-5)
1975 Padres (1-5)