Cincinnati ? During the campaign for a sales tax to build a new downtown ballpark, general manager Jim Bowden made a promise to Reds fans.

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

They built it. The Reds didn’t win.

And 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 Philadelphia. 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. Boone later had a single and two walks, and scored the winning run.

“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 when they were fired.

Boone, who managed Kansas City from 1995 to 1997, 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.”