ST. LOUIS - The Reds are about to become the biggest road draw of all time.

        Cincinnati's road attendance is guaranteed to surpass three million after this weekend. Every game in this series is sold out at Busch Stadium, where the Cardinals have averaged 40,971 a game.

        The Reds began Friday with a road attendance of 2,875,290, only 68,867 shy of the record held by the 1993 Atlanta Braves.

        Factors in the Reds' popularity include center fielder Ken Griffey Jr.'s arrival, their 96-67 finish last season and the 21 games they played at San Francisco, Houston, Chicago and Cleveland, where sellouts were virtually guaranteed. This series will push the Reds' season road sellout total to 35.

        REESE UPDATE: Reds team physician Dr. Tim Kremchek said second baseman Pokey Reese's bruised left hand may need special care.

        Kremchek said the Reds will ask equipment manufacturers about having a pad sewn into Reese's batting glove.

        Reese, a Gold Glove winner, is wearing a padded splint after he underwent an MRI exam. With the end of the season at hand, the best treatment for Reese is rest. “We'll check in on him in the next couple of weeks,” Kremchek said.

        BAD TIMING: Manager Jack McKeon doubts any division winner will have 97 victories this season. For that to happen, St. Louis would have to sweep the Reds, Atlanta would have to sweep Colorado, or San Francisco would have to win at least two of three from Arizona.

        “That goes to show you we had a good year in the wrong year,” McKeon said, referring to Cincinnati's 96-67 finish last season. “But that's the way it goes. It shows you have to be lucky.”

        UP NEXT: Osvaldo Fernandez (3-3) will oppose Cardinals right-hander Pat Hentgen (15-11) today. Fernandez lasted just 1ô innings, the shortest outing of his career, in a 12-6 Reds victory in St.Louis on July 6, yielding three earned runs and six hits.

Reds 8, Cardinals 1 Box, runs Reds best road draw ever Workhorse Sullivan on record pace

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