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?
A home run in the sixth inning by Pete Rose got Cincinnati’s offense going as the Reds broke open a tight contest on their way to a 5-1 victory over the San Diego Padres.
Padres starter Dan Spillner had only allowed a Rose single in the first before surrendering the long ball to the Reds third baseman.
In the seventh, the Reds tagged Spillner for three more runs. Cesar Geronimo had a two-run double and Rose added a RBI single, which was his third hit of the affair.
Johnny Bench knocked in the final tally for the Reds in the eighth off Danny Frisella, who worked the last two frames for the Padres.
Fred Norman (8-6) went the distance to get the win for the Reds as he scattered nine hits and allowed a run in the ninth.
Bob Davis drove in the run with a double.
The Reds return home to begin a three-game series with Philadelphia at Riverfront Stadium.
Jack Billingham (9-2) takes the mound for Cincinnati as the Reds look for their fourth straight win, while Kyle Kendrick gets the call for the Phillies.
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 (54-30)
1954 Giants (2-2)
2017 Astros (5-8)
1957 Braves (4-7)
1981 Dodgers (2-5)
1975 Padres (3-11)