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?
Cincinnati had plenty of offense as the Reds allowed starting pitcher Don Gullett to use cruise control on his way to a complete game, while the lefty beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 9-2 at Riverfront Stadium.
It was the fifth win for Gullett (18-6) over the Dodgers this season with all of the victories coming against Fernando Valenzuela.
A RBI single by Steve Garvey gave the Dodgers a 1-0 lead in the top of the third.
The advantage didn’t last long as the Reds scored five times in the bottom of the third.
Valenzuela walked Cesar Geronimo, Gullett and Pete Rose to begin the rally. Ken Griffey and Joe Morgan followed with RBI singles and the Reds had the lead.
Another run scored when Valenzuela couldn’t field a grounder by Johnny Bench. Tony Perez added the final run with a single.
Pedro Guerrero hit a solo homer in the sixth to drive in the final run for the Dodgers against Gullett.
Cincinnati put the game away in the bottom of the sixth with a solo homer from Rose, a bases loaded walk to Perez and an unearned run.
George Foster had a sacrifice fly in the eighth to give the Reds their winning margin.
Gary Nolan (13-10) gets the start for the Reds in the finale of the two-game series. Jerry Reuss will get the call for the Dodgers from manager Tom Lasorda.
National League Standings
(Records involve games only with Reds)
East Division
1969 Mets (7-5)
2016 Cubs (6-6)
1971 Pirates (5-7)
1967 Cardinals (4-8)
1975 Expos (4-8)
2008 Phillies (2-10)
West Division
1954 Giants (7-4)
1975 Reds (85-53)
2017 Astros (5-8)
1957 Braves (4-7)
1981 Dodgers (5-10)
1975 Padres (4-12)