Reds vs. Red Sox Game 7

The atmosphere was electric as the crowd filed into Fenway Park for Game 7. Boston fans hoped tonight would finally end the curse that had plagued their team since 1918. Cincinnati backers hoped their 108-win team could claim the crown and take their place as one of the all-time greats in baseball history. The starting pitchers were Bill Lee for Boston and Don Gullett for the Reds. What followed was one of the most unusual Diamond Legacies games I have ever played.

Leading off the game, Pete Rose reached second after Red Sox left fielder Bernie Carbo misplayed a slicing fly ball. Joe Morgan followed with a drive that looked like it would find the gap in right-center before Fred Lynn made a diving catch. Rose alertly advanced to third on the fly out. With Johnny Bench at the plate Lee threw a wild pitch that allowed Rose to score. Bench drew a walk and scored on Tony Perez's double to right. Cincinnati led 2-0, but that would be their only hit of the game.

The losing pitcher in his two previous starts in this series, Gullett brought his best stuff to Game 7. Boston's best chance to score came in the third when Dwight Evans lined a shot that hit high off the Green Monster, just missing a home run by a couple feet. With Dewey on second, Rick Burleson laid down a bunt to advance the runner to third with one out. Darrell Johnson sent Juan Beniquez to pinch hit for Lee, ending the Spaceman's night after just three innings. Unfortunately for the Red Sox, Beniquez hit a one-hopper to Gullett that forced Evans to remain at third. Carbo then flied out to end the inning.

With one out in the sixth, Joe Morgan reached first after a third strike got past Carlton Fisk. Bench then followed with what looked like a double to right, before Evans made a diving catch to rob the hit. Cincinnati bats remained cold the rest of the game. It was even worse for Boston's offense. After the third inning, Gullett did not allow a single baserunner. The Reds ace allowed only two hits in a brilliant shutout performance.

Much like the real '75 Reds, the Big Red Machine was pushed to the brink before narrowly claiming the championship on the road in Game 7. It was a fun series to play with plenty of drama and tense at-bats over the seven games. Now it's time to review the stats and determine the MVP. 

Reds 2, Red Sox 0

Reds vs. Red Sox Game 6

During the real 1975 World Series, heavy rains delayed Game 6 for three days. The time off allowed the Red Sox to give Luis Tiant his third start of the series. Cincinnati gave the ball to Gary Nolan. I will follow suit for my Game 6.

Tiant took the mound looking sharper than ever, retiring the first 14 batters he faced. Morgan drew a walk in the fourth and Foster singled in the fifth, but neither advanced past second. Cecil Cooper led off the third for Boston with a double. Following a sacrifice bunt from Doyle, Carl Yastrzemski singled to drive in the first run of the game. The Red Sox added two more in the sixth from a Petrocelli double that drove in Fisk and a Burleson single that drove in Petrocelli.

This game would not end with a 12th-inning home run off the foul pole, but it did have some late-inning drama. Trailing 3-0 in the eighth, Cincinnati manager Sparky Anderson sent Terry Crowley to bat in the pitcher's spot. The pinch hitter lifted a drive to left field that just cleared the Green Monster for an opposite field solo shot. Darrell Johnson then replaced Tiant with southpaw Roger Moret. A walk to Rose and a Burleson error put Reds at first and second. With the tying run on and only one out, Moret retired Joe Morgan on a fly out. Johnson then brought in right-hander Dick Drago to face Johnny Bench. The Red Sox closer retired the slugging catcher on a grounder to short to end the threat. Drago then sent down the side in order in the ninth to close out the victory and even the series at three games apiece.

The two teams will take the field one more time in a deciding game for the 1975 World Series championship ...

Game 6: Red Sox 3, Reds 1

Reds vs. Red Sox Game 5

Having been held to just one run over the previous two games, the Red Sox faced elimination as they headed into Game 5 at Riverfront Stadium. To make matters worse for the visitors, Cincinnati would be starting the formidable Don Gullett (15-4, 2.42 ERA). Boston countered with 13-game winner Reggie Cleveland (4.43 ERA).

The Red Sox bats finally awakened in the second, when Carlton Fisk and Fred Lynn opened the inning with back-to-back singles. Rico Petrocelli followed with a single of his own to drive in the first run of the game. Dwight Evans continued the parade with an infield single, his team's fourth straight hit. With the bases loaded and nobody out, Rick Burleson drew a walk to force in another run. Cleveland then helped his own cause with a sacrifice fly to put Boston up 3-0.

Cincinnati got on the board in the third when Joe Morgan doubled home Cesar Geronimo, who had walked earlier in the inning. Gullett drew a walk to open the Reds fifth, prompting Red Sox manager Darrell Johnson to bring in Bill Lee to replace Cleveland. After retiring the next two batters, the Spaceman surrendered a single to Morgan and a double to Johnny Bench that tied the game at three apiece.

Boston reclaimed the lead in the sixth, when Fisk walked and Lynn and Evans each delivered RBI-doubles. The Red Sox bullpen held Cincinnati's offense in check to keep the score at 5-3 heading into the ninth. In the top of the frame, hits by Petrocelli, Cecil Cooper, and Juan Beniquez gave the visitors two more insurance runs. Dick Drago sent the Reds down in order in the bottom of the ninth to close out the victory for Boston.

The Reds still hold a 3-2 lead in the series, but Boston's hopes have been revived as the teams head back to Fenway for Game 6.

Game 5: Red Sox 7, Reds 3 

Reds vs. Red Sox Game 4

Looking to get back on track after their narrow loss the night before, the Red Sox turned to Game 1 starter Luis Tiant. Cincinnati gave the ball to lefty Fred Norman, who posted a 12-4 record during the regular season. Boston needed a strong outing from their starter and Tiant delivered, twice working out of trouble to shut out the Reds over the first five innings. Rose, however, led off the sixth with a single. Following a Griffey fly out, Joe Morgan tripled to plate Cincinnati's first run. Tony Perez followed with a sacrifice fly to drive in Morgan. Though the Reds did not score again, their bats had done enough.

Norman turned in an October masterpiece, keeping the Red Sox hitters off-balance all night. Boston managed only three singles with no runner advancing past first base. Norman struck out 12 and walked just one in the shutout. The southpaw's dominant performance has moved his team to within one victory of their first World Series championship since 1940.

With his team facing elimination, skipper Darrell Johnson has to find some way to reignite the Red Sox offense in Game 5.

Game 4: Reds 2, Red Sox 0

Reds vs. Red Sox Game 3

For Game 3 at Riverfront Stadium the Red Sox sent 19-game winner Rick Wise to the mound, while the Reds countered with 15-game winner Gary Nolan. The visitors struck first in the opening frame when Denny Doyle singled and came home on a Carlton Fisk double into the left-center field gap. Nolan then settled down to retire 13 of the next 14 batters. Unfortunately for Cincinnati, Wise came out of the gate sharp, allowing only one hit over the first four frames. But the Boston starter ran into trouble in the fifth after two walks and a single loaded the bases with two outs. Reds right fielder Ken Griffey then drew his team's third free pass of the inning to force home George Foster with the tying run.

Boston put two men on in the seventh, but could not break through against the Reds bullpen. The home team similarly could not generate much offense and the game headed into the ninth tied 1-1. Reds reliever Clay Carroll held the visitors scoreless in the top of the frame. Boston southpaw Roger Moret hoped to follow suit and send the game to extra innings.

Johnny Bench popped out to start the bottom of the ninth. Foster followed with a single and Dave Concepcion drew a walk. Red Sox skipper Darrell Johnson considered bringing in his closer Dick Drago but stuck with Moret against the lefty batting Cesar Geronimo. The Reds outfielder tapped a slow roller to Doyle, advancing the runners to second and third with two outs. With the pitcher's spot due next, Sparky Anderson called on Doug Flynn to pinch hit. Despite falling behind in the count, the rookie utilityman lined a fastball into right field to bring home the winning run.

Game 3: Reds 2, Red Sox 1

Reds vs. Red Sox Game 2

Following the historical 1975 series, the Game 2 starters were Jack Billingham for Cincinnati and Bill Lee for Boston. Also, because Jim Rice was injured and did not play in the '75 Series, I'm not using him in the Red Sox lineup. That means for some of the games Carl Yastrzemski will play left field (as he did in the real Series), where he has a Fielding Rating of 98.

Pete Rose led off the game with a double and came around to score on Tony Perez's double later in the inning. The Reds held a 1-0 lead through the first four innings. In the top of the fifth, Rose lined a solo shot over the Green Monster. After retiring Morgan, Lee walked Bench and gave up a single to Perez. The Spaceman looked for a double play to get out of the jam, but instead George Foster blasted a three-run homer over the Monster to put the Reds up 5-0.

Doyle and Yastrzemski drew walks to start the Red Sox fifth. Both runners scored when Fisk followed with a double off the center field wall. Billingham retired the next three batters, but Sparky Anderson ended his night after that. With the lead down to three runs and his starter uncharacteristically wild (7 walks in 5 innings), the Reds manager brought in Will McEnaney for the sixth. The reliever posted zeroes in the next two innings, but gave up a single to Rico Petrocelli to start the eighth. Anderson then summoned rookie closer Rawly Eastwick to go for a six-out save. The Reds lead remained 5-2 heading into the bottom of the ninth, when one-out hits by Cecil Cooper and Doyle brought the tying run to the plate in the form of Yastrzemski, who had tripled and drawn two walks thus far in this game. But the fireballing Eastwick squashed the threat by striking out Yaz and retiring Fisk on a line out.

Tied at one game apiece, the two teams head to Riverfront Stadium in Cincinnati for Game 3. 

Game 2: Reds 5, Red Sox 2

Reds vs. Red Sox Game 1

The 1975 World Series is the next set of games I'll be playing with Book 3 of Diamond Legacies. Same as the historical series between Cincinnati and Boston that year, Game 1 took place at Fenway Park with Don Gullett pitching for the visitors and Luis Tiant taking the hill for the home team.

Carl Yastrzemski started the scoring early with a two-run blast into the right field bleachers in the first. Cincinnati got on the board in the third, when a Tiant error and two walks loaded the bases with one out. Johnny Bench hit a grounder to short and beat the throw to first to avoid a double play and allow Cesar Geronimo to score. Following a Joe Morgan single in the fifth, Bench doubled to drive in another run and tie the game. Morgan gave Cincinnati the lead in the seventh with an RBI single. 

With Gullett cruising, things were looking bleak for the fans at Fenway. In the bottom of the eighth, Yastrzemski batted with one out and Denny Doyle on first. With a dramatic swing, Yaz took Gullett deep again for another two-run homer into the right field seats. Tossing two scoreless innings in relief, Jim Burton was the winning pitcher for the Red Sox.

While Boston celebrates the late inning comeback, the Big Red Machine will be looking to even the series in Game 2 at Fenway.

Game 1: Red Sox 4, Reds 3