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 wild pitch proved to be the difference as the Cincinnati Reds will head into the all-star break with a 4-3 victory over the New York Mets at Riverfront Stadium.
After the Mets tied the game on a RBI single by Ken Boswell in the top of the eighth off Pedro Borbon, the Reds were able to answer with some help.
Pete Rose led off the bottom of the eighth off Mets reliever Ron Taylor. With Ken Griffey at the plate, Taylor’s pitch got by Jerry Grote allowing Rose to race home with the go-ahead score.
In the ninth, Red manager Sparky Anderson called on Will McEnaney to shut the door on the Mets. The Reds lefty was able to retire Bud Harrelson, Wayne Garrett and Cleon Jones to earn his sixth save of the season.
Pitcher’s Duel
The contest was scoreless until New York starting pitcher Nolan Ryan lifted a two-run homer that barely cleared the left field fence in the top of the fourth to put the Mets in front 2-0.
The lead didn’t last very long as George Foster tied it at 2-2 with a two-run blast off run in the bottom of the frame.
Foster eventually gave the Reds the lead with a solo shot off Ryan in the seventh.
Reds starter Clay Kirby was in line for his first win of the season after seven innings of work as he gave up six hits with four strikeouts.
Borbon (5-3) was awarded the victory after giving up the run to the Mets in the eighth.
The Reds return to action after the all-star break with a visit to Montreal.
Don Gullett (11-4) will get the ball for the Reds, while Steve Rogers takes the mound for the Expos.
National League Standings
(Records involve games only with Reds)
East Division
1971 Pirates (3-2)
1969 Mets (5-4)
2016 Cubs (3-4)
1975 Expos (2-4)
1967 Cardinals (1-4)
2008 Phillies (1-9)
West Division
1975 Reds (60-31)
1954 Giants (2-2)
2017 Astros (5-8)
1957 Braves (4-7)
1981 Dodgers (2-5)
1975 Padres (3-11)