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?
Cincinnati returned to action after the all-star break with a 9-5 victory at Montreal as the Reds began an eight-game road trip.
A two-run single in the first inning by Johnny Bench got the Reds on their way to the win against Expos starter Steve Rogers.
The Reds added two more runs to take a 4-0 advantage. Tony Perez had a RBI double in the fourth, while Joe Morgan knocked in a run in the fifth with a single.
In the bottom of the fifth, the Expos were able to cut the deficit in half as Bob Bailey led off the frame with a homer against Reds starter Don Gullett (12-4). Jerry White drove in the second run with a single.
Both teams exploded in the seventh to end the day for both starting pitchers.
After Rogers retired the first to hitters in the top of the inning, the Reds scored five times. Bench and George Foster had RBI singles before Perez sent Rogers to the showers with a three-run blast to give the Reds a 9-2 lead.
The Expos were able to answer, but it wasn’t nearly enough. Pepe Frias homered with one gone, while Gary Carter and Bailey each had two-out run-scoring singles to end Gullett’s day.
Clay Carroll finished the seventh as he induced Jose Morales to hit a fly out to Cesar Geronimo. He tossed a perfect eighth and ninth as the Reds were able to hold off the Expos.
Cincinnati will have Gary Nolan (10-5) heading to the mound as the Reds face Montreal in the second contest of the three-game set at Jarry Park. Steve Renko is scheduled to start 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 (2-5)
1967 Cardinals (1-4)
2008 Phillies (1-9)
West Division
1975 Reds (61-31)
1954 Giants (2-2)
2017 Astros (5-8)
1957 Braves (4-7)
1981 Dodgers (2-5)
1975 Padres (3-11)