Latest news with #TerryFrancona
Yahoo
17 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Reds manager Terry Francona snaps at reporter after blowout loss to Cubs
The post Reds manager Terry Francona snaps at reporter after blowout loss to Cubs appeared first on ClutchPoints. The Cincinnati Reds left Wrigley Field on a sour note Wednesday afternoon, falling 6-1 to the Chicago Cubs in a frustrating series finale. And for manager Terry Francona, the loss brought more than just scoreboard disappointment — it brought tension to the postgame podium. After his team managed just four hits and struck out 12 times, Francona wasn't in the mood for silver linings. When asked whether he could take anything positive away from the series — despite winning two out of three — Francona shot back bluntly: 'I don't know why you asked that.' He later added, 'If I thought it was productive, I'd do it. It's just not a productive way to do things,' emphasizing that moral victories weren't on the menu. The Cubs didn't just win — they dominated. Cade Horton delivered another gem, tossing 5 2/3 shutout innings while striking out six and walking none. The 23-year-old hasn't allowed a run in 23 1/3 consecutive innings, extending a dominant streak that dates back nearly a month. Reds can't sweep Cubs, look ahead to Pittsburgh Chicago's offense gave him plenty of cushion. Seiya Suzuki led the charge with a third-inning sac fly and a sixth-inning solo homer — his 27th of the year — moving him into a tie for fourth in the NL. Dansby Swanson and Ian Happ added solo shots of their own in the seventh and eighth innings, putting the game out of reach. The Reds, meanwhile, struggled to get anything going at the plate. TJ Friedl reached base twice, including a ninth-inning single that set up Cincinnati's only run of the game. Austin Hays grounded out to bring Friedl home, helping the Reds avoid a shutout — but barely. Andrew Abbott, who's been Cincinnati's most consistent starter this season, took the loss after allowing four earned runs over 6 2/3 innings. It was just his third loss of the year and one of his rougher outings, though he managed to limit the damage for much of the game until the late home runs started to pile on. Chicago reliever Andrew Kittredge highlighted the bullpen effort with an immaculate seventh inning — three strikeouts on nine pitches — the first for the Cubs since 2022. Daniel Palencia recorded the final three outs for his 16th save of the season. The loss drops the Reds to 60-55, now three games behind the Mets for the final NL Wild Card spot. Despite taking the series, Wednesday's defeat and Francona's tense response served as a reminder that expectations are rising in Cincinnati. The Reds now head to Pittsburgh for a four-game set against the Pirates. Brady Singer (9-8, 4.36 ERA) will take the mound Thursday night against rookie sensation Paul Skenes (6-8, 2.02 ERA). Related: Cubs' Andrew Kittredge completes rare immaculate inning vs. Reds Related: Reds' Nick Lodolo makes gruesome admission on blister injury
Yahoo
17 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Reds rumors: Hunter Greene injury return is ‘imminent' for final playoff push
The post Reds rumors: Hunter Greene injury return is 'imminent' for final playoff push appeared first on ClutchPoints. The Cincinnati Reds are the first team out of the National League Wild Card race. With new manager Terry Francona running the show, they have raised their ceiling and could chase down a playoff spot. They've kept the train on the tracks without their ace for most of the season and now, he is coming back. The Reds are preparing for Hunter Greene to return from injury soon, according to ESPN's Alden Gonzalez. 'It has been a long, slow climb back for Greene and the right groin strain he suffered, for a second time, on June 3,' Gonzalez reported. 'The right-hander seemed to be approaching a return in July, but he experienced lingering pain and had to shut it down once more. Now, though, his return seems imminent. Greene navigated a third rehab start on Sunday, during which he struck out seven batters in 3 ⅓ innings, and is scheduled to ramp up to 80 pitches on Friday.' The Reds are still getting great pitching from their starting rotation. Andrew Abbott was an All-Star, Nick Lodolo has been excellent, and Brady Singer has been great in his first season with Cincinnati. Greene was sensational before going on the IL, with a 2.72 ERA in 11 starts. While the Reds are in contention this year, they have a bright future to consider as well. They should not push Greene this year and risk further injury, but considering his health through rehab starts, that should not be a big concern. If he continues his dominant form, the Reds can get hot down the stretch. Greene was solid in his first two years as a starter, with a 4.62 ERA in 46 starts. In 2024, he turned it up to another level. From July 1 to the end of last year, he posted a 1.02 ERA in nine starts. When he returns, it will be a massive boost to Cincinnati's rotation. Related: Reds manager Terry Francona snaps at reporter after blowout loss to Cubs Related: Cubs' Andrew Kittredge completes rare immaculate inning vs. Reds
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
How Cincinnati Reds say Speedway Classic fiasco might have been handled better
CHICAGO – It took two days, but the Cincinnati Reds weathered the literal storms of Bristol, Tennessee, to get out of the daunting confines of Chicago with a successful series in hand and with bullpen strength restored. As far as they're concerned, the further they can put the Speedway Classic debacle in the rear-view mirror, the better – especially when it comes to the inevitable rehashing if that crapshow-suspended game they lost to the Atlanta Braves proves decisive in their efforts to reach the playoffs. For now, MLB might be well served to listen to observations and ideas for how to avoid at least the competitive-integrity conflicts created when the one-off marketing gimmick at the NASCAR venue got waylaid by persistent storms through the scheduled game night Saturday (never mind the fan-experience problems). What Reds players said about fixing the Speedway Classic 'It was great until the rain,' Reds second baseman Matt McLain said. 'I just think that the first night could have been handled better, and I think everyone agrees with that.' As soon as MLB chose to start the game, the rain worsened; the already delayed game was delayed again in the bottom of the first; Reds starter Chase Burns consequently was burned after a single 1-2-3 inning; and the game was eventually suspended – forcing an eight-inning bullpen game for the Reds and costing both teams the built-in off day. Among the ideas players and staff said might have alleviated the problems created by lack of better planning for this year's version of what has become an annual one-off: Add an extra off day to the event window. Schedule at least a two-game series instead of the single game. Allow teams to add an extra player of their choosing for the game (as the league does for doubleheaders) instead of inexplicably mandating a non-pitcher as the extra player for the event. Terry Francona on Speedway Classic, extra player rule 'I'm glad (Braves manager Brian Snitker) was in there with me,' Reds manager Terry Francona said of the meeting with league officials during the lengthy delay, 'because he actually voiced it first: Who said it had to be a position player? Because when you have a doubleheader, you do whatever you want. And nobody knew. 'I said, 'Well, we might not be able to finish this game tomorrow.' The commissioner, to his credit, said, 'We'll change that.' That helped. It helped them maybe more than us. But it got us through the game.' The Braves were able to call up a starting pitcher to take the ball when the game restarted. The Reds needed to get reliever Lyon Richardson – who'd been optioned to Triple-A barely 24 hours earlier – to Bristol. At which point commissioner Rob Manfred offered his jet to meet Richardson in Cincinnati to rush him to Bristol. 'I cornered him when we left (the meeting),' Francona said. 'I said, 'Tell me you're serious now.' Because I didn't want him to wiggle out of it. 'He said, 'No, it's the least I could do.' He was actually pretty cool.' Reds path to MLB postseason It didn't keep the Reds from winding up at a competitive disadvantage by the time the game was done, eventually losing 4-2 to a team far out of contention. The first of these annual events to get pushed into uncharted rainwaters by weather adversity offers at least a chance to revisit what went wrong to have a better chance to get it right whenever and wherever MLB stages its next sideshow game. 'Maybe you could do it earlier in the year when you're not as beat up or banged up,' veteran Gavin Lux suggested. 'Or you build it in around a schedule where you're playing somewhere near there (in the next series), and we don't lose an off day in there. 'Maybe you play three games there instead and do a whole series instead of just one game where you fly in and fly out. That might make it a little easier. That's the only thing I can think of.' And if you get a game or two in and have to postpone a game? 'It wouldn't be the end of the world,' Lux said. 'It's kind of tough where we're at in the season to lose an off day like that. And then it just puts your bullpen in a bad spot. And those guys are beat up out there. Losing Chase hurts there.' McLain suggested much of the problem was created by trying to squeeze the game into a perceived window during a lengthy storm instead of just pushing the whole game back a day. Or adding a second off day for the teams to assure some pitching-staff integrity if faced with situations like this. And this: 'It should have been a 5 o'clock start (instead of 7). Then you have the back end (of the day),' McLain said. Neither Francona nor team president Nick Krall thought a second scheduled off day was the best idea because of having potentially too much time between games and also the tradeoff of a heavier week of games somewhere else. 'Maybe make it a series, like two games in three days, where if there's rain that would probably help,' Francona said. 'There's so much I don't know. Like somebody losing a series. I don't understand all that." There might not be an easy answer, short of eliminating these types of events during the regular season. 'I don't know what the answer is,' Lux said. 'Hopefully next year we come up with a better idea.' This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: How Cincinnati Reds say Speedway Classic fiasco might have been fixed
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
'Munster' numbers: Check out the history Cincinnati Reds manager Terry Francona just made
CHICAGO – Of all the gin joints in all the ballparks in the world, Terry Francona walked into Leo Durocher's. And then walked right past him. Well, one of Durocher's (four) ballparks, anyway. Francona, the Cincinnati Reds manager who earned his 2,000th career managerial win in the final game before the All-Star break, reached 2,010 when the Reds beat the Chicago Cubs in the first two games of this week's series at Wrigley Field – passing former Cubs manager Durocher for 12th on the all-time list. Francona, who's been roaming ballparks since his dad played in the 1960s, never got a chance to meet Durocher. 'Saw him on TV,' Francona said. 'I can't remember – Leave it to Beaver?' Among Durocher's guest appearances during his Hollywood dalliances was a 1965 episode of The Munsters. 'That's it!' Francona said with the help of another elder citizen in the room. 'Me and you are probably the only two who know what that is.' Durocher, who also appeared on episodes of Mr. Ed and The Beverly Hillbillies before that, was known as a hard-driving, fiery manager, who played a big role in integrating MLB was the manager of the Brooklyn Dodgers when Jackie Robinson was signed and laying down the law with his players that anyone who had a problem with Robinson would be helped out the door. A season-long suspension for off-field issues prevented him from managing Robinson in his rookie season. Among Leo the Lip's other achievements in his career was turning down the moribund Cubs in the 1960s – before famously driving the core of a front-running 1969 club with four Hall of Famers into the ground down the stretch of an all-day-games home schedule until the Mets eliminated them. Durocher's All-Star catcher, Randy Hundley, caught a league-high 151 games in 1969, a year after catching 160. Asked what he knew about Durocher, Francona said, 'Pretty aggressive demeanor' – joking that 'our demeanors probably mirror each other pretty well.' Francona, 66, is in the first year of a three-year contract with the Reds. Next up on the all-time list for Francona is legendary Dodgers manager Walter Alston (2,040). This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Terry Francona just made history with Cincinnati Reds. Check it out
Associated Press
6 days ago
- Sport
- Associated Press
Cincinnati Reds place left-hander Nick Lodolo on 15-day injured list with blister
The Cincinnati Reds placed left-hander Nick Lodolo on the 15-day injured list on Tuesday with a blister on his left index finger. Lodolo left Monday night's 3-2 win over the Chicago Cubs in the second inning. The 27-year-old Lodolo is 8-6 with a 3.05 ERA in a career-high 23 starts and 129 2/3 innings. He is 4-1 with a sparkling 1.95 ERA in his last nine appearances. The Reds also recalled right-hander Yosver Zulueta from Triple-A Louisville before their matchup with the Cubs. Manager Terry Francona said right-hander Nick Martinez would move back into the rotation with Lodolo out. CHICAGO (AP) — Lodolo had a blister last season and doesn't think this one is as severe. Francona said he expects the 6-foot-6 lefty to bounce back quickly. 'He's actually doing pretty well,' Francona said. 'They're going to take today and just treat him, and then I think they'll get a ball back in his hand tomorrow. Might not be a baseball, might be one of those … without the seams. 'But I think they feel like they've got to get a ball in his hand, not to wear it out, but to toughen it up so (the blister) doesn't come back.' Zulueta made two relief appearances for the Reds in May, allowing one run in 2 1/3 innings. ___ AP MLB:
