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’s Fred Norman tossed a three-hitter as he blanked the Milwaukee Braves 8-0 capping a six-game road trip as the Reds took five contests.
Norman (7-5) allowed a singles to Andy Pafko in the second and Del Rice in the third before giving up another single to Eddie Mathews in the eighth.
With just two strikeouts, Norman did battle with some control as he walked four. However, Braves starter Bob Buhl also struggled with the apparently tight strike zone as he issued six free passes.
The Reds picked up the first run of the contest on a sacrifice fly by Norman in the top of the fifth.
In the sixth, George Foster‘s run-scoring single and a sacrifice fly by Dave Concepcion put the Reds in front 3-0.
Buhl would be finished after seven frames as he gave up four hits with four strikeouts.
Braves manager Fred Haney went to the bullpen, but it didn’t work out as Juan Pizarro had major problems and surrendered five runs.
Pizarro gave up a RBI single to Tony Perez and a two-run homer to Cesar Geronimo in the eighth.
After fanning Pete Rose to begin the ninth, Pizarro walked Ken Griffey. It was the 11th walk in the contest for both squads and a digruntled Pizarro made a mistake to Joe Morgan, who hit a two-run blast.
The Reds open a four-game set against San Diego at home as Jack Billingham gets the start. Dave Freisleben is scheduled for the Padres.
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 (48-25)
1954 Giants (2-2)
1957 Braves (4-7)
1981 Dodgers (2-5)
2017 Astros (2-8)
1975 Padres (1-5)