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?
A big day by Tony Perez proved to be the difference as Cincinnati beat Montreal 7-2 in the finale of a three-games series at Riverfront Stadium.
Pete Rose got things underway for the Reds with a solo homer in the third inning off Expos starter Woodie Fryman, who had defeated Reds 5-0 earlier this season.
In the fifth, Rose singles and Joe Morgan walked before Perez drilled a three-run homer to put the Reds on top 4-0.
Perez was at it again in the seventh with a RBI single. George Foster added a run-scoring single.
The Reds picked up their final run of the frame when Johnny Bench scored when Merv Rettenmund hit into a double play.
Fred Norman (4-4) even his record with a complete game as he gave up six hits with seven strikeouts and a pair of walks. Pedro Borbon was called on to get the final two outs as Norman got in trouble in the ninth.
The Expos scored both their runs on sacrifice flies. Gary Carter hit one in the sixth and Pete Mackanin had his in the ninth.
Fryman went six innings and gave up four runs on eight hits with seven strikeouts and there walks.
Chuck Taylor pitched to three Cincinnati batters in the seventh and all of them scored. Dale Murray finished the seventh and Fred Scherman tossed a scoreless eighth.
Cincinnati heads to St. Louis for the first time this season to take on the Cardinals in a three-game set.
In the opener, Jack Billingham (6-0) is scheduled to start for the Reds with the Cardinals countering with Ray Washburn.
National League Standings
(Records involve games only with Reds)
East Division
1969 Mets (4-1)
1975 Expos (2-4)
2008 Phillies (1-6)
1967 Cardinals (0-0)
1971 Pirates (0-0)
2016 Cubs (0-0)
West Division
1975 Reds (31-16)
1954 Giants (2-2)
1957 Braves (2-3)
1981 Dodgers (2-5)
2017 Astros (2-5)
1975 Padres (1-5)