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 late power surge propelled the Chicago Cubs to a 7-2 victory over Cincinnati in the finale of a two-game series at Riverfront Stadium.
With a pair of aces on the mound runs were hard to come by as the Reds had a 1-0 lead after seven innings.
George Foster‘s RBI single against Cubs starter Jon Lester came in the fourth inning.
Reds starter Don Gullett (15-6) had held the Cubs to three hits heading into the eighth.
Anthony Rizzo had one of the hits for the Cubs with a double in the first. After Gullett walked Kris Bryant with two outs, Rizzo drilled a two-run shot that put the Cubs in front 2-1.
Joe Morgan answered as he led off the bottom of the eighth with a long ball to tie the contest at 2-2.
With Gullett still on the mound in the ninth, he gave up a double to Addison Russell and a single to Javier Baez before allowing a RBI single to Albert Almora that gave the Cubs the lead.
Cincinnati manager Sparky Anderson called Rawly Eastwick from the bullpen, but that wouldn’t help the cause for the Reds.
After fanning Willson Contreras and Lester, Eastwick walked Dexter Fowler to load the bases.
For the second straight game, Bryant responded in the situation with a grand slam to expand Chicago’s margin to five runs.
Lester was able to finish the contest in the ninth after giving up a single to Dave Concepcion and having Merv Rettenmund reach on an error.
The Reds welcome Pittsburgh to Cincinnati for the opener of a four-game set that will end a nine-game homestand.
Gary Nolan (11-8), who appears to have responded to some treatment on his arm after losing three straight starts, gets the ball for the Reds. Dock Ellis is slated to start for the Pirates.
National League Standings
(Records involve games only with Reds)
East Division
1971 Pirates (3-2)
1969 Mets (7-5)
2016 Cubs (5-4)
1975 Expos (4-8)
1967 Cardinals (1-4)
2008 Phillies (2-10)
West Division
1954 Giants (7-4)
1975 Reds (72-46)
2017 Astros (5-8)
1957 Braves (4-7)
1981 Dodgers (5-9)
1975 Padres (3-11)