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?
One day after being shut out, the New York Mets had a late power surge to get by the Cincinnati Reds 9-6 in a 12-inning affair at Shea Stadium.
The biggest swing of the day came from New York third baseman Wayne Garrett.
The Reds had grabbed a 6-5 advantage in the top of the 12th against Ron Taylor, who was in his third inning on the mound.
Cincinnati’s Will McEnaney came on in the bottom of the frame, but he could only get one out as the Mets crowd was going wild.
Ken Boswell reached on an error and J.C. Martin followed with a single. McEnaney retired pinch-hitter Jerry Grote on a fly to left before he walked Bud Harrelson to load the bases.
Garrett’s walk-off grand slam had the fans running on the field during the celebration.
Fast Start for Reds
A three-run homer by Johnny Bench gave the Reds the lead in the first inning against Mets starter Jerry Koosman.
Art Shamsky hit hit first of two long balls on the day in the second inning to make it 3-1.
The Mets tied it in the fourth on a RBI triple by Donn Clendenon, who would later score on a ground out by Shamsky.
Pete Rose broke the tie in the sixth with a run-scoring single to give the Reds a 4-3 lead.
Cincinnati added an insurance run in the top of the ninth, which the Reds would eventually need. Entering the game for an injured Tony Perez, Dan Driessen gave the Reds a 5-3 lead with a RBI single.
The First Big Swing
Reds closer Rawly Eastwick was in line for a save when retired the Mets in order in the eighth, but things quickly got out of hand in the ninth.
Eastwick gave up a single to Tommy Agee and then Shamsky drilled a two-run homer to tie the affair at 5-5 to send the contest to extra innings and set the stage for Garrett’s heroics.
In the series finale of the three-game set, the Reds send Fred Norman (10-6) to the mound as the Mets counter with Gary Gentry.
National League Standings
(Records involve games only with Reds)
East Division
1971 Pirates (3-2)
1969 Mets (6-5)
2016 Cubs (3-4)
1975 Expos (2-7)
1967 Cardinals (1-4)
2008 Phillies (2-10)
West Division
1975 Reds (66-32)
1954 Giants (2-2)
2017 Astros (5-8)
1957 Braves (4-7)
1981 Dodgers (2-5)
1975 Padres (3-11)