MLB Record low for a Game 5 in Series TV ratings

PHILADELPHIA -- Television ratings for Game 5 of the World Series were as bad as the weather.

The 5 1/2 innings the Philadelphia Phillies and Tampa Bay Rays got in during the rain Monday night received an 8.2 rating and 12 share, Fox said Tuesday. The previous low for a fifth game was a 10.0/17 for the San Francisco Giants' 16-4 romp over the Anaheim Angels in 2002.

Philadelphia and Tampa Bay were tied 2-2 when the game was stopped.

Thus far, the World Series has received an 8.1/14, down 24 percent from the 10.6/18 for a four-game sweep by the Boston Red Sox over the Colorado Rockies last year. This year is 20 percent behind the current record low for a full World Series, the 10.1/17 for the St. Louis Cardinals' five-game victory over the Detroit Tigers in 2006.

The rating increased from a 6.5/10 at 8:30 p.m. and was at its highest, 10.4/16, when the game was stopped.

With the Phillies trying to close out their first title since 1980, the game drew a 45.2/60 in Philadelphia. The rating in the Tampa-St. Petersburg market was 28.1/40.

-- AP