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 arm and one bat was all the Cincinnati Reds would need.
The arm belonged to Gary Nolan (14-10), who went the distance in the finale of the two-game series as the Reds beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 2-0 at Riverfront Stadium.
The bat belonged to George Foster.
Foster drilled the first of his two solo homers in the second inning before stroking another in the fourth to back up Nolan’s performance.
Nolan gave up seven hits with three strikeouts. Bill Russell topped the Dodgers with a single and a double.
Dodgers starter Jerry Reuss worked six innings and he also allowed seven hits. In addition to his two long balls, Foster also had a single in the sixth.
Steve Howe followed Reuss on the mound and he tossed two perfect innings.
The Reds will have Fred Norman (14-9) starting in the opener of a three-game series at home against the New York Giants.
Jim Hearn is slated to start for the Giants.
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 (86-53)
2017 Astros (5-8)
1957 Braves (4-7)
1981 Dodgers (5-11)
1975 Padres (4-12)