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 opened a three-game series in Montreal as the Reds seemed to forget their bats in a 2-0 loss to the Expos at Jarry Park.
Left handers Woodie Fryman and Fred Scherman combined to blank the Reds, who were shutout for the fourth time this season.
Fryman, who gave up five hits with six strikeouts, got in the trouble in the ninth.
With one out and the Expos holding a two-run lead, George Foster doubled and then Tony Perez was intentionally walked. Fryman was done after walking Dave Concepcion to load the bases.
Montreal manager Gene Mauch summoned Scherman to face Cesar Geronimo. With the infield in, Geronimo hit a grounder to first and Jose Morales fired home to Gary Carter to force out Foster.
Scherman earned his save when he got pinch-hitter Merv Rettenmund to hit a grounder to Larry Parrish at third to end the game.
Fred Norman (3-4) was a hard-luck loser for the Reds as he worked seven innings and allowed three hits with six strikeouts. Clay Kirby gave up the other hit as he tossed a scoreless eighth.
The problem for Norman occurred in the fourth inning as he surrendered half of the hits by the Expos.
Parrish and Carter began the frame with back-to-back solo shots for the only runs of the game.
Jack Billingham (4-0) gets the start in the second contest of the series, while the Expos send Dennis Blair to the mound.
National League Standings
(Records involve games only with Reds)
East Division
1975 Expos (1-0)
1969 Mets (2-1)
2008 Phillies (1-3)
1967 Cardinals (0-0)
1971 Pirates (0-0)
2016 Cubs (0-0)
West Division
1975 Reds (24-13)
1954 Giants (2-2)
1957 Braves (2-3)
1981 Dodgers (2-5)
2017 Astros (2-5)
1975 Padres (1-5)