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?
Baseballs were flying all over Three Rivers Stadium as Cincinnati defeated Pittsburgh 10-9 in a wild 10-inning affair.
The two teams combined for 26 hits with 10 for extra bases, including five homers. The Reds had 16 of the hits, while four of the Pirates total of 10 were long balls.
The game-winning run came across in the 10th after Cesar Geronimo tripled and Pete Rose hit a sacrifice fly.
Rawly Eastwick worked a perfect bottom of the 10th to preserve the victory and earn his 12th save.
Fast Start
The action got going in the top of the first as the Reds scored three times against Pittsburgh starter Dock Ellis.
Johnny Bench had a two-run single and the Reds added a run when the Pirates turned a double play.
Cincinnati’s lead only lasted four batters against Reds starter Gary Nolan.
Dave Cash led off with a triple and Richie Hebner knocked him in with a single.
After Roberto Clemente singled, Willie Stargell drove a long homer to right and the Pirates were on top 4-3.
The score remained the same until the top of the fifth when Rose singled and went to second on an error in left by Stargell. A RBI single by Ken Griffey tied it at 4-4.
A two-run homer by Tony Perez put the Reds in front 6-4 in the sixth inning. However in the bottom of the frame, the Reds were unable to hang on to the advantage again.
As in the first inning, it took the Pirates just four batters to regain the lead. Clemente singled and Stargell blasted another homer.
Bob Robertson capped the rally with a solo shot to give the Pirates a 7-6 lead as Nolan was sent to the showers. Pedro Borbon stopped the scoring as he retired Al Oliver and Manny Sanguillen.
Pittsburgh added a run in the seventh as Cash had a RBI ground out against Borbon.
Ellis started eighth, but he was gone after a walk to George Foster, a double by Perez and a sacrifice fly by Dave Concepcion.
Dave Giusti went to the mound and gave up a RBI double to pinch-hitter Dan Driessen before walking Joe Morgan with the bases loaded to give the Reds a 9-8 lead.
Will McEnaney surrendered a solo homer to Robertson in the bottom of the eighth and the game was tied again at 9-9. McEnaney was changed with a blown save, but he was able to pick up the victory to make his record 4-2 this season.
Neither team could muster any offense in the ninth, which set the stage for Cincinnati’s winning rally in the 10th
Fred Norman (4-4) will get the start for the Reds in the middle contest of the three-game series, while Ken Johnson gets the call for the Pirates.
National League Standings
(Records involve games only with Reds)
East Division
1969 Mets (4-1)
1975 Expos (2-4)
2008 Phillies (1-6)
2016 Cubs (0-0)
1971 Pirates (0-1)
1967 Cardinals (0-3)
West Division
1975 Reds (35-16)
1954 Giants (2-2)
1957 Braves (2-3)
1981 Dodgers (2-5)
2017 Astros (2-5)
1975 Padres (1-5)