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?
One mighty swing by Johnny Bench changed everything.
After getting swept by the New York Mets, the Cincinnati Reds were in danger of losing for the third straight time.
Although Cincinnati was down by two runs with one out in the bottom of the 11th, the Reds rallied to post a walk-off 4-3 victory over Philadelphia.
Phillies closer Brad Lidge had shut the Reds down in the 10th and quickly retired pinch-hitter Terry Crowley to begin the 11th.
Lidge walked Pete Rose and Ken Griffey to bring the Riverfront Stadium crowd to life.
However, Lidge got Joe Morgan to hit a ground ball to first baseman Ryan Howard to start a game-ending double play.
The speedy Morgan beat throw back to first by Jimmy Rollins and the Reds were still alive.
Bench, who also had a triple, blasted a three-run homer and sent all of Cincinnati into a frenzy.
Pitcher’s Duel
Starters Fred Norman of the Reds and Brett Myers of the Phillies both were in control through out the contest.
The only blemish for each came in the second inning.
Pat Burrell tagged Norman for solo shot in the top of the frame, while Tony Perez tied the game with a homer in the bottom of the inning off Myers.
Both pitchers allowed just five hits with Norman fanning eight. Myers struck out five.
Pedro Borbon came on with two outs in the 10th to retire Rollins before Lidge worked his perfect 10th.
In the 11th, an error by Rose put Shane Victorino on first. He promptly swiped second and things quickly got out of hand for Borbon.
Borbon gave up a RBI single to Chase Utley to give the Phillies a 2-1 advantage, but then he got two quick outs.
With Borbon set to leadoff the bottom of the inning at the plate, Reds manager Sparky Anderson decided to leave him on the mound.
Burrell walked and then Pedro Feliz singled to make it 3-1 to set the stage for Bench’s game-winner.
Jack Billingham (5-0) will start for the Reds in the second contest of the three-game series, while Kyle Kendrick gets the call for Philadelphia.
National League Standings
(Records involve games only with Reds)
East Division
1969 Mets (4-1)
1975 Expos (1-2)
2008 Phillies (1-4)
1967 Cardinals (0-0)
1971 Pirates (0-0)
2016 Cubs (0-0)
West Division
1975 Reds (27-15)
1954 Giants (2-2)
1957 Braves (2-3)
1981 Dodgers (2-5)
2017 Astros (2-5)
1975 Padres (1-5)