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.
New York rookie Gary Gentry delivered exactly what the Mets needed.
Behind Gentry’s pitching performance the Mets were able to stay alive in the National League Championship Series with a 4-0 victory over the Cincinnati Reds at Shea Stadium. With the win, the Mets trail the Reds in the best of five series two games to one.
Gentry (1-0) blanked the Reds on two hits, while allowing just two other baserunners.
Joe Morgan singled in the fourth and Dan Driessen had a pinch-hit single in the eighth. Tony Perez walked in the second and Dave Concepcion reached on an error in the fifth.
Offensively, the Mets put together a rally in the third against Reds starter Fred Norman (0-1) that proved to be the difference.
New York sent eight batters to the plate as Cleon Jones and Tommie Agee came through for the Mets. Jones knocked in two runs with a double, which was followed by a two-run single by Agee.
Norman was able to stick around for seven innings as he gave up just four hits with three strikeouts, but his effort wasn’t helped by the Reds lack of offense.
The Mets will try to even the series in game four as Tom Seaver (0-1) gets the start after falling in the opener. The Reds counter with Jack Billingham, who was 13-9 during the regular season.
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 3, Oakland 2, (Red Sox win series 3-0)
National League Championship Series
Game 1 – Cincinnati 2, New York 1, (Reds lead series 1-0)
Game 2 – Cincinnati 2, New York 1, (Reds lead series 2-0)
Game 3 – New York 4, Cincinnati 0, (Reds lead series 2-1)
Game 4 – Cincinnati (Jack Billingham 13-9) at New York (Tom Seaver 0-1)
Game 5 – Cincinnati at New York, if necessary
World Series
Game 1 – NL at Boston
Game 2 – NL at Boston
Game 3 – Boston at NL
Game 4 – Boston at NL
Game 5 – Boston at NL, if necessary
Game 6 – NL at Boston, if necessary
Game 7 – NL at Boston, if necessary