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 four-run ninth inning proved to be the difference for Cincinnati as the Reds came-from-behind to beat the San Diego Padres 6-5.
With San Diego leading 4-2 heading into the top of the ninth, Padres starter Dan Spillner was in control after he fanned pinch hitter Dan Driessen to begin the frame.
The lead slipped away quickly from Spillner as he gave up single to Rose.
Ken Griffey sent Spillner to the showers with a two-run homer that tied the game.
Danny Frisella was called from the bullpen by Padres manager John McNamara to stop the rally by the Reds.
Joe Morgan promptly welcomed Frisella to the game with a single and before the dust settled, he swiped second.
After Johnny Bench grounded out, George Foster smacked a Frisella offering into the left field seats to put the Reds on top 6-4.
The Reds had two more runners reach base before Frisella was able to end the inning.
Since Cincinnati had the lead going into the bottom of the ninth, Reds manager Sparky Anderson picked Will McEnaney to put the finishing touches on the win.
McEnaney retired the first two hitters before Willie McCovey blasted a long homer to right to pull the Padres to within a run. Gene Locklear hit a line drive to Tony Perez at first to end the game.
Padres Grab Lead
A RBI single by Hector Torres gave the Padres a 1-0 lead in the second inning.
After the Reds tied it with a run-scoring single by Morgan in the third, Cincinnati starter Don Gullett walked Locklear with the bases loaded.
Mike Ivie‘s two-run homer in the fifth gave the Padres a 4-1 advantage. Bench hit a solo homer in the sixth to set the stage for the wild ninth inning.
Gullett was able to survive to get through eight innings to get the win. He gave up 10 hits and had seven strikeouts.
Spillner ended with a no-decision as he allowed 11 hits and fanned six.
In the finale of the three-game series, Cincinnati will have Clay Kirby (0-0) on the mound, while San Diego ace Randy Jones goes for the Padres.
National League Standings
(Records involve games only with Reds)
East Division
1967 Cardinals (0-0)
1969 Mets (0-0)
1971 Pirates (0-0)
1975 Expos (0-0)
2008 Phillies (0-0)
2016 Cubs (0-0)
West Division
1975 Reds (4-1)
1954 Giants (0-0)
1957 Braves (0-0)
2017 Astros (0-0)
1981 Dodgers (1-2)
1975 Padres (0-2)