CINCINNATI - Here’s how those boos that Jay Bruce would reflect on afterward came about:

Cincinnati Reds reliever Jose Arredondo was roughed up by the San Francisco Giants when he came into Wednesday night’s National League Division Series game in the seventh inning. He gave up a double to Joaquin Arias, managed to get Angel Pagan line out to centerfield as Arias moved to third and then gave up a run -scoring double to Marco Scutaro, followed by a two-run home run to Pablo Sandoval.

That put the Giants up 8-3 - which would be the final score - and that drew boos from many in the jam-packed, ready-to-celebrate crowd of 44,375 at Great American Ball Park.

I believe the boos weren’t directed so much as Arredondo, as they were the whole swoon of the Reds since coming back from San Francisco with a 2-0 lead in the best-of-five series. Since getting back home the Reds have lost two straight and the Giants definitely have the momentum going into Thursday afternoon’s series finale.

After the game, those late-game boos still stuck in the craw of Bruce, the Reds’ right fielder.

“Our fans have a pretty interesting way of showing their support,” he said quietly after most of the media throng had left his locker. “I understand them being into the game and wanting the best for us, but sometimes it’s hard to tell whether you’re at home or on the road.”

In this election season, Bruce then tried to be something of a politician and temper his thoughts as best he could:

“Our fans are what make us go. We need our fans on our side. We’ve come a long way and made a lot of improvements. We’ve done a lot of great things. There’s been an increase in attendance, so obviously it’s appreciated. But at the end of the day you want your fans on your side. That’s what it’s all about.

“You want to come to the park and feel like you have a 10th man out there.”

Wednesday night - at least from the vocal disapproval in the seventh - it was obvious the fans were worried about the other nine men out there.