Reds’ Fan Hurt in Fall From Stands

A Cincinnati Red fan fell from the lower deck while reaching for a home run ball Monday at Cinergy Field and was taken to a hospital to be treated for broken ribs.

Curtis Staker, 44, of Loveland, Ohio, reached for Eddie Taubensee’s home run to right field in the third inning of the Kansas City Royals’ 7-4 victory over the Cincinnati Reds. Staker lost his balance and fell about 15 feet behind the outfield wall.

“He was awake and alert,” Timothy Kremchek, the Reds’ doctor, said. “He complained of pain in his back and leg. So far, there’s no evidence of a head injury, but we’re taking precautionary measures.”

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Cincinnati shortstop Barry Larkin finally gave in to the pain from his left Achilles’ heel and was put on the 60-day disabled list, ending his season.

Larkin, who sat out six weeks earlier this season with a strained left calf muscle, will undergo surgery to repair the tendon on Wednesday. He has been bothered by the heel since spring training and it has hampered his play throughout the season. Larkin, 33, batted .317 with four homers and 20 runs batted in 73 games this season. It is the fewest games he has played in a season since appearing in 41 games his rookie season of 1986. He played in only 15 games since coming back from the calf injury.

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The Philadelphia Phillies activated pitcher Ken Ryan, who had been on the 15-day disabled list because of a sprained ligament in his right elbow.