...ummm, Cinergy Field. The Reds-Phillies series this weekend mark the final 3 games ever before they turn it into parking space for the new park...things weren't all that exciting this afternoon thanks to last night's rain, as these excerpts attest...
[quote] CINCINNATI (AP) -- The final series at Cinergy Field got off to a miserable start for the home team. Boos filled a nearly empty stadium as Barry Larkin booted a game.
The Reds' shortstop and team captain muffed two grounders in the 10th inning, setting up Jimmy Rollins' bases-loaded double, as the Philadelphia Phillies rallied for a 5-3 victory Saturday.
Rollins hit a soft double to right, drawing boos from what was left of the crowd of 13,821.
The series had been scheduled to start on Friday night, but a rainout resulted in the first day-night doubleheader in the stadium's 32-year history. The Reds are to move into Great American Ball Park next season.
The Reds sold 36,940 tickets for Friday's game, which was supposed to include a fireworks show. Few fans returned for the makeup game, which coincided with Ohio State's game against the University of Cincinnati at neighboring Paul Brown Stadium.
Many of the fans left after the Reds failed to win it in the ninth inning, which ended about 20 minutes before Ohio State's kickoff.
The Phillies hope things go better when they close Veterans Stadium after next season.
"Hopefully, we'll have a bigger crowd than what showed up today,'' Rollins said. "I hope we won't have to compete with a college football crowd. It's tough when you've got college football right around the corner.''
Of course, Jimmy may not be aware that there is very little interest in college football in Philadelphia. No chance of that happening.
The night game drew 40,000-plus but the fans went home unhappy again as the Phils won 5-4 in 11 innings.
Two extra-inning games in a row? Sounds like the old ballpark doesn't want to quit just yet.