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?
There are times when a team just can’t hang on to a victory when the opponent doesn’t quit.
Cincinnati lost a three-run advantage with one swing as the Reds eventually fell 7-6 to Philadelphia in the final contest between the two teams this year.
The Reds finish with a 10-2 mark against Philadelphia as the Phillies stopped Cincinnati’s nine-game winning streak in the season series.
Down 6-3 in the bottom of the seventh, Chase Utley drilled a three-run homer to tie the contest at 6-6. The blast ended the day for Reds starter Pat Darcy.
One inning later, Geoff Jenkins singled to drive in the final tally of the contest against Pedro Borbon (5-4), who was tagged with the loss.
J.C. Romero picked up the win for the Phillies as he worked a scoreless eighth. Brad Lidge tossed a perfect ninth to earn a save.
Fast Start
By the top of the fourth, the Reds had built a 6-2 lead.
Joe Morgan homered in the first off Philadelphia starter Adam Eaton. In the second inning, Cesar Geronimo added a RBI double and Pete Rose knocked in another run with a single.
Morgan walked with the bases loaded in the fourth before Tony Perez capped the frame with a two-run single.
Philadelphia scored one run in the second, third and fourth.
Ryan Howard hit solo homers in the second and fourth. Shane Victorino had a sacrifice fly in the third.
Cincinnati heads to New York for a three-game series against the Mets at Shea Stadium.
The opener features the aces from both squads as Don Gullett (12-3) takes the mound for the Reds with Tom Seaver scheduled to get the ball for the Mets from manager Gil Hodges.
Seaver has won both of his starts against the Reds this season with complete games allowing just one run on seven hits with 12 strikeouts.
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 (2-10)
West Division
1975 Reds (64-32)
1954 Giants (2-2)
2017 Astros (5-8)
1957 Braves (4-7)
1981 Dodgers (2-5)
1975 Padres (3-11)