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?
San Diego lefty Randy Jones didn’t look like the pitcher who was 8-22 for the Padres in 1974.
Jones appeared to be ready to win 20 games as he kept Cincinnati off balance to lead the Padres to a 10-1 victory over the Reds.
Scattering eight hits with five strikeouts, Jones didn’t allow a run until a sacrifice fly by Pete Rose in the ninth inning.
For the Padres, the door opened quickly as Tito Fuentes reached on an error by Reds catcher Bill Plummer.
Two batter later, Willie McCovey had a RBI single and Gene Locklear drove in a second run as he beat out a double play attempt by the Reds.
Heading into the bottom of the sixth ahead by two runs, the Padres exploded for five runs.
Reds starter Clay Kirby (0-1) didn’t get an out, which forced Reds skipper Sparky Anderson to bring on Pat Darcy.
Darcy wasn’t able to hold off the charge by the Padres as they built a 7-0 lead.
After Darcy walked Ted Kubiak and Jones with the bases loaded, Fuentes had a two-run double and Johnny Grubb capped the rally with a RBI single.
In the eighth, McCovey blasted a three-run homer off Clay Carrol to put the Padres up 10-0.
Locklear led San Diego with four hits, while Joe Morgan topped the Reds with three hits.
The Reds will head north to Los Angeles as they face the Dodgers in a four-game series.
Gary Nolan (0-0) makes his second start of the season in the opener at Dodger Stadium, while he will be countered by Jerry Reuss.
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 (4-2)
1954 Giants (0-0)
1957 Braves (0-0)
2017 Astros (0-0)
1975 Padres (1-2)
1981 Dodgers (1-2)