The eighth-inning wild pitch thrown by Reds reliever John Riedling Saturday set a National League record for wild pitches for a team in a season: 92, upped to 93 by Danny Graves an inning later. But what became of the record-breaking ball itself?

        Home plate umpire Jeff Kellogg pitched the ball back to ball boy Drew Miele, who put it in the ball bag — much to the chagrin of Reds media relations director Rob Butch er, who likes to save such historical items.

        Prompted by bullpen coach Tom Hume, Miele fished the ball out of the bag and tossed it in the dugout. But who knows if it was the ball from Riedling's wild pitch?

        “It is. I'm positive,” Hume said after the game, examining the ball.

        Someone suggested to Butcher the ball should be on its way to the Hall of Fame. “Nah,” Butcher said, with a laugh. “This one's going on my shelf.”

        ATTENDANCE: Saturday's paid crowd of 32,660 made the 2000 season the Reds' second-highest-drawing year in history. The season total stands at 2,541,728 entering today's final home game, well short of the record of 2,629,708 set in 1976. But Saturday's crowd moved the 2000 Reds past 1977 (2,519,670) and 1978 (2,532,497).

        INJURY UPDATE: Ken Griffey Jr., still limping, missed his 11th straight start Saturday with a par tial tear of his left hamstring. Michael Tucker started in center field and led off, but Griffey pinch-hit in the eighth and legged out an infield single.

        Second baseman Pokey Reese missed his second straight start with a bruised left hand. He was hit by a pitch from Russ Ortiz Wednesday at San Francisco. Chris Sexton started at second Saturday.

        UP NEXT: The Reds conclude their home season with a 1:15p.m. start today against Houston.

        Right-hander Osvaldo Fernandez (3-3, 3.90 ERA) will pitch for the Reds against Astros right-hander Wade Miller (5-6, 5.30). Fernandez, who suffered elbow soreness much of the season, is coming off his best major-league appearance in four years: a 7-1 victory over San Francisco that was his first complete game since Aug.25, 1996. In three September starts, Fernandez has decreased his ERA from 4.73 to 3.90.

Outfield seats to become memories Dismantling outfield seats a tedious process Greatest Moments In Stadium History Reds show no interest in retaining McKeon Possible replacements for McKeon Reds 6, Astros 4 Box, runs Wild pitch ball saved

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