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 series has advanced to the post-season as the Reds finished 100-63 in games played with the Strat-o-Matic cards and dice. The 1969 New York Mets “won” the NL East with a 7-5 record against the Reds. The ALCS teams are the actual participants in the post-season.
Boston broke open a tight contest on the way to an 8-3 win over the Oakland A’s at Fenway Park as the Red Sox grabbed a 2-0 advantage in the American League Championship Series.
With the score tied 3-3, the Red Sox sent Oakland starter Vida Blue to the showers in the bottom of the sixth.
After Blue retired Carlton Fisk, the former Cy Young Award winner gave up three straight hits.
Dwight Evans doubled and then scored on a two-bagger by Rico Petrocelli. Doug Griffin followed with a run-scoring single and the Red Sox led 5-3.
Blue fanned Cecil Cooper for the second out and then walked Rick Burleson. Carl Yastrzemski ended Blue’s time on the mound was over with a single that made it 6-3.
Against A’s reliever Sonny Siebert, Boston scored in the seventh on a RBI single by Bernie Carbo and added the final tally in the eighth when Yastrzemski hit a solo homer.
Early Lead for Red Sox
Boston got off to a fast start in the first thanks to some help from the A’s with an unearned run and then a bases loaded walk to Evans.
Bert Campaneris had a RBI groundout in the second for Oakland’s intitial run against Red Sox starter Rick Wise, who went the distance for the victory.
A long ball by Jim Rice in the third gave the Red Sox a 3-1 lead before the A’s were able to tie it in the fourth.
Home runs by Reggie Jackson and Jim Holt provided the power to tie the game at 3-3.
The ALCS moves to Oakland for game three. Bill Lee (17-9) gets the start for Boston as the Red Sox look to sweep Oakland. The A’s will have Dick Bosman (11-4) take the mound.
NL Championship Series
The second game of the National League Championship Series resumes in Cincinnati as Gary Nolan (18-10) starts for the Reds as they look for a 2-0 lead. The Mets counter with Jerry Koosman (17-9).
1975 Reds Replay Post-Season Schedule
American League Championship Series
Game 1 – Boston 5, Oakland 1, (Red Sox lead series 1-0)
Game 2 – Boston 8, Oakland 3, (Red Sox lead series 2-0)
Game 3 – Boston (Bill Lee 17-9) at Oakland (Dick Bosman 11-4)
Game 4 – Boston at Oakland, if necessary
Game 5 – Boston at Oakland, if necessary
National League Championship Series
Game 1 – Cincinnati 2, New York 1, (Reds lead series 1-0)
Game 2 – New York (Jerry Koosman 17-9) at Cincinnati (Gary Nolan 18-10)
Game 3 – Cincinnati (Fred Norman 16-11) at New York (Gary Gentry 13-12)
Game 4 – Cincinnati at New York, if necessary
Game 5 – Cincinnati at New York, if necessary
World Series
Game 1 – NL at AL
Game 2 – NL at AL
Game 3 – AL at NL
Game 4 – AL at NL
Game 5 – AL at NL, if necessary
Game 6 – NL at AL, if necessary
Game 7 – NL at AL, if necessary