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 in St. Louis, a late rally by Cincinnati proved to be the difference as the Reds beat the Cardinals 3-2 at Busch Stadium.
With the contest tied at 2-2 heading into the top of the eighth, Johnny Bench singled with one out to begin the rally against St. Louis reliever Nelson Briles.
Bench moved to second on a passed ball by Tim McCarver before George Foster singled with two outs to give the Reds the lead for good.
Rawly Eastwick worked a perfect ninth inning to earn his 11th save of the season.
Pedro Borbon picked up the win as he allowed a pair of hits in two scoreless innings of relief.
Neither starter figured in the decision. Pat Darcy went six innings for the Reds and gave up eight hits and two runs, while, Larry Jaster tossed seven frames and gave up two runs on five hits.
A two-run homer by Bench got things started in the first inning for the Reds.
Orlando Cepeda hit a solo shot in the bottom of the first and the Cardinals tied it in the sixth on a RBI single by McCarver.
The two teams finish the three-game series with their aces on the mound for the finale as Cincinnati’s Don Gullett (5-3) squares off with Bob Gibson of the Cardinals.
National League Standings
(Records involve games only with Reds)
East Division
1969 Mets (4-1)
1975 Expos (2-4)
2008 Phillies (1-6)
1971 Pirates (0-0)
2016 Cubs (0-0)
1967 Cardinals (0-2)
West Division
1975 Reds (33-16)
1954 Giants (2-2)
1957 Braves (2-3)
1981 Dodgers (2-5)
2017 Astros (2-5)
1975 Padres (1-5)