By John Fay
The Cincinnati Enquirer

CHICAGO - Felipe Lopez, the only Puerto Rican native on the Reds roster, says his teammates are in for a treat tonight when they open a three-game series against the Montreal Expos in Puerto Rico.

"I've been telling them it's going to be different," Lopez said. "It's going to be a lot of fun."

Fans in Puerto Rico don't wait for action to cheer. They bang drums, wave flags and generally whoop it up.

"They're pretty enthusiastic," said manager Bob Boone, who played winter ball in Puerto Rico in 1972.

Lopez expects the fans to be split between the Reds and the Expos.

"The Expos aren't really a home team," Lopez said. "I think most of the fans will be there to see the Latin players."

Ruben Mateo played regular-season games in Puerto Rico when he was with the Texas Rangers.

The big attractions for that series were natives Carlos Delgado of Toronto and Ivan Rodriguez, then of Texas.

"But they cheer for everybody," Mateo said. "That's what makes it so much fun."

Boone didn't think much about the Reds going to Puerto Rico when the schedule came out.

"I'd just as soon go there as Montreal," Boone said. "But now, I'm looking forward to it after enduring two days of this weather."

It was 43 degrees for the first pitch Thursday at Wrigley Field. It was 80 degrees at the same time in San Juan.