CINCINNATI (AP) – During the campaign for a sales tax to build a new downtown ballpark, general manager Jim Bowden made a promise to Cincinnati Reds fans.

“Build it,” he said, “and we will win.”

They built it. The Reds didn’t win.

And on Monday, one of baseball’s most visible general managers was gone.

The Reds fired Bowden, manager Bob Boone and two coaches shortly before a 6-5, 10-inning victory over the Philadelphia Phillies. They plan to wait until after the World Series to hire replacements.

Bowden had been general manager since the 1992 season, the second-longest tenure in the majors, and was the figure who brought Ken Griffey Jr. home and guided the Reds through a decade of owner Marge Schott’s missteps.

But the Reds reached the playoffs only once during his 11 years, Griffey kept getting hurt and the team was having its most disappointing season yet when Bowden was fired.

“Certainly there were high expectations for this season,” chief operating officer John Allen said. “I’m not saying we necessarily expected to go to the World Series, but we certainly didn’t expect to be sitting 101/2 games out and significantly under .500 at this point in the season.”

The Reds expected to contend with a $57 million payroll – 17th in the majors – as they opened their first season in Great American Ball Park. Two major injuries to Griffey, unexpectedly poor defense and the collapse of a low-budget rotation prompted changes.

Third baseman Aaron Boone, the manager’s son, was making toast in the clubhouse lounge when his father called him over and told him the news.

“There are tons of emotions that run through you,” Aaron Boone said. “There’s a little relief. I don’t think it’s been the best situation for him.”

I don’t think he’s been treated the best. Everything always has been his fault, which comes with the territory. The problems have run a lot deeper for the last couple of years.”

From owner Carl Lindner down, there have been miscalculations and unwise decisions made by a team that hasn’t been able to develop pitching or stick to a development plan.

Lindner was criticized for not spending more money on the rotation when the club moved into a tax-financed ballpark. Their payroll ranked fourth in the NL Central.

“Somebody usually has to take a fall in this situation,” first baseman Sean Casey said. “Sometimes you feel that if they had the resources more, we could have done a better job.”

Bowden and Boone had contracts that expired at the end of the season, applying a lot of pressure to win. The Reds were 46-58, 101/2 games out, when they were fired.

Boone left the clubhouse shortly after he met with Allen, thanking reporters but declining comment. Bowden also left the ballpark, and declined to take questions about the firing when reached by phone.

“It’s been an honor and a privilege to be a member of the Cincinnati Reds organization, and to have served as general manager since 1992,” Bowden said. “I want to thank the fans of Cincinnati for all of their support during my tenure. I wish the Reds organization nothing but a successful future.”

Bowden was promoted to general manager after the 1992 season, when owner Marge Schott fired Bob Quinn and let manager Lou Piniella leave. At age 31, Bowden was the youngest general manager in major league history.

His first big decision was hiring Tony Perez as manager. He showed his impatience by firing him after 44 games, prompting former pitcher Tom Browning to dub him the “boy wonder.”

Bowden led the Reds to the NL championship series in 1995, when they had the second-biggest payroll in the league and got swept by Atlanta. The Reds then began retrenching and rebuilding toward the new ballpark.

When the 1999 team made an unexpected run at the playoffs, the Reds changed direction and considered themselves a contender. Bowden pulled off the signature move of his tenure in February 2000, trading for Griffey.

Lindner decided to give shortstop Barry Larkin, the team’s captain, a $27 million, three-year contract extension during the 2000 season. The two combined salaries – Griffey will make $116.5 million over nine years – weighed down the small-market team.

Larkin has been hurt repeatedly and Griffey has had six major injuries in four seasons. He’s out for the year with a torn ankle tendon.

The Reds’ rotation has the highest ERA in the league, and the defense has the most errors in the majors, setting up a July swoon that led to the firings of Bowden, Boone, third base coach Tim Foli and hitting coach Tom Robson.

Bench coach Ray Knight took over for Monday’s game, and will be the third base and hitting coach for the rest of the season. Dave Miley, the Reds’ Triple-A manager since 1996, will be interim manager until the next general manager picks one.

Assistant general manager Brad Kullman and scouting director Leland Maddox will take over Bowden’s duties in the interim, negotiating trades and judging players.

Bowden was the second general manager fired this season. The Mets got rid of Steve Phillips on June 12.

Bob Boone is the second manager fired this season. The Florida Marlins fired Jeff Torborg on May 11 and replaced him with Jack McKeon, who managed the Reds from 1997-2000.

The Reds were 190-238 under Boone, who took over after a flap involving Bowden. Former coach Ron Oester was offered the job, but said he held out for more money on Bowden’s advice. Unaware, Allen then turned to Boone, who got a two-year deal with an option for 2003. Bowden later denied telling Oester to hold out for more money.

AP-ES-07-28-03 1831EDT