1975 Reds Replay 78: 2017 Astros

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?

Houston broke open a tight contest as the Astros beat Cincinnati 7-2 to begin a three-game series at Riverfront Stadium.

With a 3-2 advantage, the Astros scored three more runs in the eighth inning against the Reds bullpen on the way to the victory.

The game was scoreless until the top of the fifth as Reds starter Fred Norman (7-6) had allowed three hits, but Alex Bregman‘s RBI double and a two-run single by Jose Altuve put the Astros ahead 3-0.

After Carlos Correa singled, Norman was finished and Reds manager Sparky Anderson called on Clay Carroll to get the final out of the frame to end the rally, which he did.

Cincinnati was able to respond in the bottom of the fifth with two runs to close the gap.

Merv Rettenmund led off with a single against Houston starter Dallas Keuchel. Dave Concepcion doubled to put runners at second and third.

Cesar Geronimo hit a sacrifice fly to bring home Rettenmund. Ken Griffey‘s single made it 3-2 as Concepcion scored.

Carroll worked a scoreless sixth as did Will McEnaney in the seventh, while Keuchel matched that effort to get to the top of the eighth.

McEnaney gave up singles to Correa and Yuli Gurriel before Marwin Gonzalez hit a RBI single to make it 4-2.

After striking out Brian McCann, Rawly Eastwick couldn’t stop the Astros as he allowed back-to-back RBI singles to Cameron Maybin and Keuchel, who at this point was going to stay on the mound.

Correa knocked in the final run of the game with his fourth single of the affair in the ninth.

Keuchel went the distance for the win as he surrendered eight hits with nine strikeouts.

The Reds look to even the series as Clay Kirby (0-2) gets a start, while Mike Fiers takes the mound for the Astros.

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 (51-27)
1954 Giants (2-2)
1957 Braves (4-7)
1981 Dodgers (2-5)
2017 Astros (3-8)
1975 Padres (2-8)