1975 Reds sweep 2012 Nats in Bracket 2, Rd 2
CINCINNATI -- In the second round of Dream Bracket 2: Dream Seasons, the 1975 Reds made quick work of the 2012 Nationals. It was a clean sweep in four games in the best-of-seven series.
• Box scores and game summaries
Most of the starting lineup had exceptional production during the wins, but it was Cesar Geronimo who led the way while batting .545 (6-for-11) with five walks and four runs scored. Pete Rose batted .450 (9-for-20) with five doubles and six RBIs.
Cincinnati moved on to Round 3, where it will meet the Hank Aaron-led 1957 Braves, which swept the '67 Cardinals in Round 2.
A 64-team, best-of-seven simulation tournament, Dream Bracket 2: Dream Seasons features two of the best post-World War II teams from each of the 30 Major League franchises, as well as three Negro Leagues teams and the 1994 Montreal Expos. The bracket is divided into the American League and the National League, with two “regions” for each league. The '90 Reds were eliminated by the '94 Expos in Round 1.
The simulated competition, featuring many of the greatest teams in baseball history, is being produced by Out of the Park Baseball 21, MLB‘s most realistic strategy game (PC and Mac).
• Complete Dream Bracket 2 rosters
Here is a look at each of the four wins for the Reds:
Game 1: Reds 4, Nationals 0
It was a scoreless pitching duel between Cincinnati’s Jack Billingham and Washington’s Gio González for seven innings. Billingham allowed one hit with no walks and eight strikeouts over 7 1/3 frames, while González gave up three hits and two walks with nine strikeouts over seven innings. Against Craig Stammen in the bottom of the eighth, the Reds scored all four runs. Rose hit a leadoff double and scored on George Foster’s two-out RBI single. Dave Concepcion reached on an error by shortstop Ian Desmond, scoring Joe Morgan. Ken Griffey’s single brought the third run across and pinch-hitter Merv Rettenmund’s bases-loaded walk against Mike Gonzalez forced home a fourth run.
Game 2: Reds 6, Nationals 5
Cincinnati was trailing, 4-2, after 4 1/2 innings, but it battled back for another win. Tony Perez's two-out, two-run homer off Stephen Strasburg tied the game in the bottom of the fifth. It was Griffey’s two-run single in the bottom of the eighth that gave the Reds the edge. After starter Gary Nolan allowed five runs in 5 1/3 frames, five relievers combined to allow only one hit over the final 3 2/3 innings.
Game 3: Reds 5, Nationals 1
Washington scored a run against starter Don Gullett in the bottom of the first inning, but it could not add more, while the Reds scored two runs in the fifth and three in the ninth. Rose’s one-out double in the fifth brought home a pair, including the go-ahead run. Gullett pitched 6 2/3 frames with four hits allowed, three walks and six strikeouts but gave up only two hits after the first inning.
Game 4: Reds 8, Nationals 4
The Reds closed out the series as Rose went 5-for-5 with three doubles and four RBIs, Foster was 4-for-5 with a solo homer in the second inning, and Concepcion went 4-for-5 with two doubles and two runs scored. The game was tied at 3 after seven innings, when Cincinnati notched four runs in the eighth. Geronimo’s bases-loaded single scored two runs to put his team up for good. Perez added a solo homer in the top of the ninth.