CINCINNATI - Manager Dusty Baker doesn't see it as a wasted evening, even though there was no final outcome. A day later, his Reds will have the first chance to come out as the eventual winner.
The Reds and Philadelphia Phillies managed only two singles apiece on Tuesday night, staying scoreless until their game was suspended because of heavy rain in the middle of the ninth inning.
The game will be picked up at the same point on Wednesday at 5:30 p.m., before the teams play the finale of their series no earlier than 7:10 p.m.
Phillies reliever Phillippe Aumont was warming up to start the bottom of the ninth when heavy rain prompted the umpires to call for the tarp. They decided to suspend it after 43 minutes with more rain headed for the area.
Aumont will have to face at least one batter. Shortstop Zack Cozart 鈥� who had one of Cincinnati's two hits 鈥� was due up.
"Maybe the first batter will hit a home run and win," Reds starter Homer Bailey said.
Left-hander Aroldis Chapman pitched the top of the ninth and retired the three Phillies he faced. Chapman has allowed only three hits and no runs in his eight appearances. He has fanned 13 in 7 1-3 innings.
Baker declined to say who would follow Chapman to the mound if the game goes extra innings.
"It'll be strange getting the first at-bat at home," Baker said. "I hope we win it before we get there (the 10th inning). It doesn't matter. They've got the heart of their lineup coming up. We're starting off even."
Pitchers dominated on a rainy night. A storm moved through after both teams finished batting practice and delayed the start of the game by 1 hour, 20 minutes. Rain returned intermittently and became steady in the fifth inning, then heavy in the ninth.
Bailey and Philadelphia's Kyle Kendrick were stingy, allowing a pair of singles apiece before leaving. They got strikeouts and let their infielders do the rest of the work.
It was a virtual day off for the outfielders, with a total of only four fly outs through the first six innings.
"You have to have a lot of respect for Kyle Kendrick," Bailey said. "That's the way it goes in a 0-0 game. It helps you stay sharp. It makes it easier to stay focused."
Bailey gave up two singles, didn't walk a batter and matched his career high with 10 strikeouts, the fourth time he's reached the number. He also fanned 10 during his 1-0 no-hitter in Pittsburgh on Sept. 28.
"We can build off that," Baker said. "We didn't waste it. He saved our bullpen and that can give him and us great confidence. You only waste it if you lose. Both sides were dealing. I hated to take him out, but they told us the rain was coming."
Kendrick left after seven innings, having allowed two singles and two walks. Laynce Nix made a diving catch of Joey Votto's liner in right field in the third inning with a runner aboard, saving a run.
Phillies centre fielder Ben Revere wore a piece of athletic tape inscribed with "PRAY For Boston" on the back of his glove for a second straight day, honouring those killed or wounded at the marathon on Monday.
NOTES: Philadelphia RF Delmon Young played nine innings and went 1 for 4, including a line-drive single off Yankees LHP Cesar Cabral, in an extended spring training game in Tampa, Fla. Young, who is coming back from an ankle injury, could be nearing the start of a minor league rehab assignment. ... C Carlos Ruiz played seven innings and had a two-run homer and double in five at-bats against the Yankees. Ruiz is suspended for the first 25 games for testing positive for an amphetamine. ... Several hundred dogs were in the stands as part of a pet promotion. ... LH John Lannan starts the series finale for the Phillies against RH Mike Leake.
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