Bus Problem Forces Reds to Miss Game

Transportation problems in Montreal kept the Cincinnati Reds from playing the annual Hall of Fame game Monday against the Boston Red Sox at Doubleday Field.

The game was scheduled to start at 2 p.m. (EDT), but at that time the Reds were still in Montreal, where they lost four consecutive games to the Expos over the weekend to extend their losing streak to eight games.

A Hall of Fame official said the Reds had bus problems and then difficulty chartering a plane for the trip to central New York.

Commissioner Bart Giamatti made the announcement to a crowd of about 9,000, who didn’t appear too disappointed.

The Red Sox arrived on time and took batting practice and played an intrasquad game, also using players from Elmira of the New York State-Penn League.

Even if the Reds made it, Manager Pete Rose planned to stay away.

Rose, who is facing allegations that he bet on baseball games, didn’t want to take any of the spotlight away from former teammate Johnny Bench, who was inducted Sunday.

The Reds play the San Diego Padres at home tonight at 7:30.