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?
Cincinnati survived a wild affair as the Reds were able to get back on the winning track with an 8-7 victory over the Milwaukee Braves at County Stadium.
After allowing a run to the Reds on a double play in the top of the first, the Braves picked up three runs in the bottom of the frame to take a 3-1 lead.
Eddie Mathews slugged a two-run homer of Reds starter Gary Nolan before Wes Covington‘s solo shot finished the rally.
In the third, the Reds grabbed a 4-3 advantage when Johnny Bench tagged a three-run bomb off Braves starter Lew Burdette.
One inning later, the Reds were at it again Ken Griffey knocked in the first run with a single before a long ball by Joe Morgan added two more.
The Braves were able to pick up a run in the bottom of the fourth on a RBI single by Red Schoendienst.
Burdette lefth the mound with one out in the sixth. He gave up a triple to Pete Rose and then a run scoring single to Morgan, which made it 8-4.
Braves lefty Juan Pizarro ended the threat as he induced Bench to ground into a double play for the second time in the game.
Milwaukee was able to respond in the bottom of the frame as Frank Torre hit a two-run homer to cut the Braves deficit in half at 8-6.
The Braves bullpen efforts of Ernie Johnson and Don McMahon were able to shut down the Reds. McMahon had five strikeouts over the final two innings.
Nolan (7-5) hung around for seven innings and earned the victory despite allowing six runs on 11 hits.
Will McEnaney tossed a perfect eighth before giving way to Rawly Eastwick. Eastwick surrendered a run on a grounder by Logan, but he was able to pick up his 16th save.
Cincinnat’s six-game road trip through Houston and Milwaukee comes to an end as Fred Norman (6-5) starts for the Reds in the series finale at County Stadium. The Braves counter with Bob Buhl.
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 (47-25)
1954 Giants (2-2)
1957 Braves (4-6)
1981 Dodgers (2-5)
2017 Astros (2-8)
1975 Padres (1-5)