1975 Reds Replay 52: 1971 Pirates

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?

An extra inning was needed for the second straight game in Three Rivers Stadium as Cincinnati beat Pittsburgh 3-1 in the middle contest of the three-game series.

A two-run single by Johnny Bench off Pittsburgh’s Nelson Briles was the difference in the 10th inning. Bench now has 42 RBI this season.

Unlike the opener of the series, game two was a pitcher’s duel.

Bill Mazeroski singled in the fourth to give the Pirates a 1-0 advantage against Fred Norman, who at that point had worked out of a couple of jams.

For the Pirates, Ken Johnson didn’t allow a hit until the fifth when he gave up a run-scoring double to George Foster that brought home Joe Morgan, who had walked and swiped second.

Norman got in trouble in the eighth and needed Clay Carroll to get the final out. Carroll (2-1), who also worked a scoreless ninth, picked up the victory.

Rawly Eastwick earned his 13th save as he retired Dave Cash, Gene Clines and Roberto Clemente in the bottom of the 10th.

Johnson had limited the Reds to just two hits when he left the mound with the bases loaded in the eighth.

With no outs, Dave Giusti fanned Bench and got Foster to hit into a double play to end the rally.

Giusti tossed a perfect ninth before giving way to Briles in the 10th.

Jack Billingham (6-0) is slated to start for the Reds in the series finale, while Luke Walker takes the mound 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 (0-2)
1967 Cardinals (0-3)

West Division
1975 Reds (36-16)
1954 Giants (2-2)
1957 Braves (2-3)
1981 Dodgers (2-5)
2017 Astros (2-5)
1975 Padres (1-5)