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 17-hit explosion by the Milwaukee offense kept the Braves from being swept by Cincinnati.
The Braves defeated the Reds 10-5 in the finale of a three-game series at Riverfront Stadium.
Cincinnati starting pitcher Gary Nolan helped his own cause with a sacrifice fly in the second inning to give the Reds a 1-0 advantage.
After blanking the Braves for three frames, Nolan (6-5) lost his hold on the lead in the fourth.
Red Schoendienst put the Braves on top 2-1 with a double.
Backup catcher Del Rice made things worse for Nolan as he blasted a two-run homer. Rice entered the contest in the bottom of the second replacing Del Crandall, who was injured while batting in the top of the second.
Nolan would survive until Hank Aaron‘s two-run homer in the fifth.
Reds manager Sparky Anderson brought in Clay Carroll, but Wes Covington welcomed him to the fray with a solo homer and the Braves led 7-1.
The Reds were able to close the gap in the bottom of the fifth against Braves starter Lew Burdette.
George Foster had a two-run single and Tony Perez followed with another single to drive in a run and it was 7-4.
With Carroll still on the mound, the Braves didn’t take long to score three more runs.
Johnny Logan had a RBI single and then he scored on a triple by Eddie Mathews that sent Carroll to the showers.
Pedro Borbon couldn’t stop the rally as he gave up a single to Aaron that brought Mathews home to a 10-4 lead.
Burdette ended up with a complete game even though he allowed a pair of runs in the bottom of the ninth.
Ken Griffey had a RBI single and Joe Morgan added a sacrifice fly. Burdette gave up 13 hits with three strikeouts.
The Reds are back in action with trip to Houston for a three-game series.
Fred Norman (5-5) takes the mound for the Reds in the opener, while the Astros counter with Brad Peacock.
National League Standings
(Records involve games only with Reds)
East Division
1969 Mets (4-1)
1971 Pirates (3-2)
2016 Cubs (3-4)
1975 Expos (2-4)
1967 Cardinals (1-4)
2008 Phillies (1-6)
West Division
1975 Reds (43-24)
1954 Giants (2-2)
1957 Braves (3-5)
1981 Dodgers (2-5)
2017 Astros (2-5)
1975 Padres (1-5)