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?
For the second straight game Houston was able to put together a winning rally that Cincinnati could not overcome as the Astros went on to a 6-2 victory over the Reds in Riverfront Stadium.
Carlos Correa sent Reds starter Clay Kirby to the showers with a three-run homer in the sixth inning, which proved to be the difference.
A pair of solo homers in the third inning got the scoring underway.
Brian McCann gave the Astros a 1-0 advantage before Johnny Bench hit a blast off Houston starter Mike Fiers to tie it in the bottom of the frame.
In the fourth, Pete Rose gave the Reds a 2-1 lead as he drove in a run by beating out a double play attempt by the Astros.
Alex Bregman added a solo homer in the fifth to set the stage for the sixth.
With one out, Kirby walked Josh Reddick and Jose Altuve before Correa ended the right hander’s day with his blast.
Correa had another homer off Pedro Borbon leading off the ninth inning.
Fiers tossed a complete game for the Astros as he allowed five hits with just one coming after the fourth frame.
Jack Billingham (9-1) will try to stop Cincinnati’s two-game losing streak as he gets the ball in the series finale. Houston will 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 (51-28)
1954 Giants (2-2)
1957 Braves (4-7)
2017 Astros (4-8)
1981 Dodgers (2-5)
1975 Padres (2-8)