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 completed a three-game sweep of Philadelphia with a 2-1 victory over the Phillies at Riverfront Stadium.
Rookie Pat Darcy (5-1) won his fifth game in his last six starts as he held the Phillies to four hits with four strikeouts, while walking five in the complete game effort.
Darcy didn’t allow a hit until the sixth and he walked Jimmy Rollins to start the frame.
After Rollins swiped second, Darcy retired Shane Victorino and Chase Utley before Ryan Howard‘s single gave the Phillies a 1-0 advantage.
Philadelphia’s lead didn’t last long as the Reds responded with a run in the bottom of the sixth.
Phillies starter Adam Eaton walked Joe Morgan. Like Rollins, Morgan got himself in scoring position with a stolen base.
Merv Rettenmund singled to score Morgan and tie the contest at 1-1.
With one out in the seventh, Cesar Geronimo homered to put the Reds on top for good.
Eaton gave up seven hits with a pair of strikeouts and two walks, which were both to Morgan.
Rettenmund and Geronimo led the Reds with two hits apiece, while Howard and Jayson Werth both had two hits for the Phillies.
The Reds welcome Montreal to Cincinnati for a three-game series that begins with a doubleheader.
Don Gullett (4-3) and Gary Nolan (5-3) will start for the Reds as they both look to rebound from losses to the New York Mets.
Steve Rogers and Steve Renko are slated start for the Expos.
National League Standings
(Records involve games only with Reds)
East Division
1969 Mets (4-1)
1975 Expos (1-2)
2008 Phillies (1-6)
1967 Cardinals (0-0)
1971 Pirates (0-0)
2016 Cubs (0-0)
West Division
1975 Reds (29-15)
1954 Giants (2-2)
1957 Braves (2-3)
1981 Dodgers (2-5)
2017 Astros (2-5)
1975 Padres (1-5)