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 got started early as the Reds rebounded from getting blanked by the Montreal Expos to even the three-game series at one contest apiece.
The Reds scored four times in the top of the first off Dennis Blair on their way to a 10-4 win over the Expos in Jarry Park.
George Foster knocked in two runs with a single and Darrel Chaney added a RBI single. Reds starting pitcher Jack Billingham coaxed a bases loaded walk to produce the last tally.
Tony Perez added a two-run homer in the third to put the Reds on top 6-0.
Blair was gone after four innings. Chuck Taylor took over and held the Reds scoreless in the fifth and the sixth.
In the seventh, the Reds got to Taylor with a two-run shot by Joe Morgan and a RBI single by Perez.
Don DeMola worked the rest of the contest for the Expos and he allowed a run-scoring single in the eighth to Morgan.
Billingham (5-0) picked up the victory as he went 7⅓ innings as he had problems in the bottom of the eighth.
Larry Parrish had a RBI single and then Jim Dwyer drove in a pair with a double.
Reds manager Sparky Anderson called on Clay Carroll to put a stop to the rally despite leading 10-2.
Pete Mackanin grounded out, but the Reds allowed a run to score to make it 10-3.
Carroll gave up a run-scoring double to Gary Carter in the ninth.
Perez topped the Reds with three hits, while Parrish also had three hits lead the Expos.
Pat Darcy (3-1) will start for Cincinnati in the series finale with Don Carrithers taking the mound for Montreal.
National League Standings
(Records involve games only with Reds)
East Division
1969 Mets (2-1)
1975 Expos (1-1)
2008 Phillies (1-3)
1967 Cardinals (0-0)
1971 Pirates (0-0)
2016 Cubs (0-0)
West Division
1975 Reds (25-13)
1954 Giants (2-2)
1957 Braves (2-3)
1981 Dodgers (2-5)
2017 Astros (2-5)
1975 Padres (1-5)