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 fast start became a factor for Cincinnati as the Reds were able to hold on for an 8-4 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies.
Cincinnati has won nine in a row over Philadelphia as the Reds have a 10-1 mark against the Phillies with one contest remaining the season series.
The Reds picked up a run in the first inning against Phillies starter Kyle Kendrick, who actually only retired one hitter.
Pete Rose led off the game with a single. Ken Griffey followed with another single that allowed Rose to reach third.
Joe Morgan‘s RBI single gave the Reds the lead, but Griffey was tossed out by Jayson Werth attempting to take third on the play.
The second out on the bases in the frame came as Morgan was caught stealing second by Phillies catcher Carlos Ruiz. Kendrick fanned Johnny Bench to end an inning that could have been much worse for the Phillies.
After Reds starter Jack Billingham retired the Phillies in the bottom of the first, the Reds offense exploded and Kendrick was done.
Kendrick couldn’t get an out as Darrel Chaney knocked in a run with a single and then Cesar Geronimo gave the Reds a 4-0 advantage with a two-single.
When Billingham coaxed a walk from Kendrick, Philadelphia manager Charlie Manuel brought in J.A. Happ from the bullpen. Rose greeted the new hurler with a single to lead the bases.
One out later, Morgan had a two-run single and it was 6-0.
Billingham and Happ were able to maintain control until the seventh when both teams were able to score.
Tom Gordon had just taken over for Happ to begin the seventh as Griffey singled. Morgan followed with a two-run bomb for his third hit of the contest.
In the bottom of the inning, Greg Dobbs smacked a three-run homer off Billingham to close the gap to 8-3. Billingham (10-3) would go seven innings allowing five hits with six strikeouts.
Shane Victorino had a RBI single in the eighth off Reds reliever Clay Carroll, who ended up finishing on the mound for the Reds.
Pat Darcy (7-3) will start for the Reds in the finale of the two-game set, while the Phillies send Adam Eaton to the mound.
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 (2-7)
1967 Cardinals (1-4)
2008 Phillies (1-10)
West Division
1975 Reds (64-31)
1954 Giants (2-2)
2017 Astros (5-8)
1957 Braves (4-7)
1981 Dodgers (2-5)
1975 Padres (3-11)