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?
Although this contest didn’t need an extra inning, Cincinnati and Pittsburgh played another tight affair at Three River Stadium.
This time, it was Pittsburgh that came out on top 4-2 as the Pirates avoided being swept in the three-game series.
With the score tied at 2-2 in the bottom of the eighth, Reds starter Jack Billingham (6-1) gave up a single to Willie Stargell to begin the frame.
After Al Oliver hit into a fielder’s choice that had Stargell out a second, Gene Clines and Manny Sanguillen both singled to load the bases.
Reds manager Sparky Anderson called on Pedro Borbon to stop the rally. It wouldn’t happen as Billingham would be tagged with his first loss of the season.
Hitless in three plate appearances, Jackie Hernandez greeted Borbon with a two-run single to give the Pirates the lead. Borbon got pinch-hitter Bill Mazeroski to hit into a double play to end the inning, but the damage was done.
Pirate closer Dave Giusti walked Merv Rettenmund to start the ninth, but he retired the next three batters to record a save. Bruce Kison, who worked a scoreless eighth for the Pirates, got the win.
Stargell got the Pirates on the scoreboard in the second with a solo homer before the Reds tied it on a RBI single by Joe Morgan in the third.
Cincinnati took a 2-1 against Pittsburgh starter Luke Walker as Cesar Geronimo knocked in run with a double in the fifth.
Walker, who went seven innings on the mound, helped himself offensively with a RBI single in the bottom of the fifth to tie it again.
Clines led the Pirates with three hits and a pair of stolen bases.
Cincinnati opens a four-game series at Riverfront Stadium against the Chicago Cubs with Pat Darcy (5-1) taking the mound for the Reds, while Jason Hammel gets the start for the Cubs.
National League Standings
(Records involve games only with Reds)
East Division
1969 Mets (4-1)
1975 Expos (2-4)
1971 Pirates (1-2)
2008 Phillies (1-6)
2016 Cubs (0-0)
1967 Cardinals (0-3)
West Division
1975 Reds (36-17)
1954 Giants (2-2)
1957 Braves (2-3)
1981 Dodgers (2-5)
2017 Astros (2-5)
1975 Padres (1-5)