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?
Four games of frustration finially ended for the Cincinnati Reds.
It took a few innings, but Cincinnati pounded out 15 hits in a 10-4 victory over the San Diego Padres to end the Reds four-game losing streak.
Tony Perez got the Reds started against San Diego ace Randy Jones as he knocked in the first two runs on a fielder’s choice in the opening frame and sacrifice fly in the third.
Willie McCovey made it 2-1 with a solo homer in the fourth off Reds starter Don Gullett.
Both teams scored three times in the fifth to make it 5-4.
Ken Griffey had a RBI triple for the Reds and Joe Morgan followed with a two-run homer in what turned out to be the last inning for Jones.
The Padres had run-scoring singles by Dave Winfield and Dave Roberts before Bob Davis came home on a wild pitch by Gullett.
The Reds took control of the game with three runs off Jerry Johnson in the seventh. Morgan had a RBI triple and George Foster had a single to bring in the second tally. Dave Concepcion capped the rally with a run-scoring single.
In the eighth, Cinncinnati added two more runs against Bill Greif. Pete Rose and Griffey both walked to start the inning. Morgan smashed a ball to center that Winfield dropped to allow both runners to score.
Gullett (10-4) was able to work seven innings as he gave up seven hits leading to four runs with only one being earned.
Game three of the four game series will have Gary Nolan (8-5) on the mound for the Reds, while Joe McIntosh starts 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 (52-30)
1954 Giants (2-2)
2017 Astros (5-8)
1957 Braves (4-7)
1981 Dodgers (2-5)
1975 Padres (3-9)