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?
Dominant pitching by Tom Seaver and a couple of big swings by Donn Clendenon was the difference as the New York Mets defeated Cincinnati 4-1 in the opener of a two-game series at Riverfront Stadium.
Seaver, who blanked Cincinnati 2-0 at Shea Stadium earlier this season, gave up four hits with eight strikeouts to get his second straight victory over the Reds.
Clendenon hit a solo homer in the second inning off Reds starter Don Gullett to give the Mets an early advantage.
A RBI single by Pete Rose in the fifth tied the contest, but the Mets had a quick answer.
In the top of the sixth, Tommie Agee led off with a single before Clendenon blasted a long ball to make it 3-1. It was his third homer off Gullett this season.
Gullett (4-3) worked seven innings allowing seven hits with six strikeouts.
Pedro Borbon tossed the final two frames and surrendered a sacrifice fly to Ron Swoboda in the eighth.
In the series finale, Cincinnati has Gary Nolan (5-2) on the mound with Jerry Koosman scheduled for the Mets.
National League Standings
(Records involve games only with Reds)
East Division
1969 Mets (3-1)
1975 Expos (1-2)
2008 Phillies (1-3)
1967 Cardinals (0-0)
1971 Pirates (0-0)
2016 Cubs (0-0)
West Division
1975 Reds (26-14)
1954 Giants (2-2)
1957 Braves (2-3)
1981 Dodgers (2-5)
2017 Astros (2-5)
1975 Padres (1-5)