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?
For the second straight game, a three-run homer proved to be the difference for Cincinnati as the Reds defeated Philadelphia 7-2.
This time, the Riverfront Stadium hero was Cesar Geronimo.
Although the Reds were ahead 2-0 at the time, Geronimo’s bomb basically put away the Phillies.
Neither team had scored as the Reds took their turn at the plate against Phillies starter Kyle Kendrick in the bottom of the sixth.
Joe Morgan led off with a walk and then stole second.
After Johnny Bench popped out, George Foster drove in Morgan to make it 1-0.
Tony Perez singled and Dave Concepcion knocked in Foster with a single to put the Reds on top by two runs.
Geronimo smacked Kendrick’s next pitch into the green seats and the Reds were on their way to the victory.
Reds starter Jack Billingham (6-0) allowed three straight hits to begin the eighth, including a RBI double by Jimmy Rollins.
Cincinnati manager Sparky Anderson summoned Will McEnaney to stop the uprising.
The Reds lefty retired Shane Victorino and Chase Utley on pop-ups to Morgan at second base before getting Ryan Howard on a line drive the nearly undressed Rose at third.
Rose added to Cincinnati’s advantage in the bottom of the eighth with a two-run single.
Clay Kirby worked the ninth for the Reds and gave up a solo homer to Jayson Werth.
Cincinnati will send Pat Darcy (4-1) to the mound in the finale of the three-game series with the Phillies scheduled to start Adam Eaton.
National League Standings
(Records involve games only with Reds)
East Division
1969 Mets (4-1)
1975 Expos (1-2)
2008 Phillies (1-5)
1967 Cardinals (0-0)
1971 Pirates (0-0)
2016 Cubs (0-0)
West Division
1975 Reds (28-15)
1954 Giants (2-2)
1957 Braves (2-3)
1981 Dodgers (2-5)
2017 Astros (2-5)
1975 Padres (1-5)