Sealed with a kiss: Cincinnati Reds give Terry Francona triumphant return to Cleveland

Yahoo

2 days ago

CLEVELAND – Christian Encarnacion-Strand stopped at the top of the dugout steps to have a quick word – and laugh – with Terry Francona before heading to the on-deck circle for a fifth-inning at-bat.
At which point the Cincinnati Reds manager called the slugger back to the dugout rail and kissed the barrel of Encarnacion-Strand's bat before sending him back out.
Advertisement
'I told him to give me some good luck,' Encarnacion-Strand said.
A few pitches later, the Reds first baseman delivered the go-ahead sacrifice fly to left field, and after adding on a few more more, Francona's new team delivered another win against his old team, this time 7-4 in the opener of a three-gamer in Cleveland that clinched the season series between Ohio's playoff-minded, cross-league rivals.
Reds manager Terry Francona acknowledges the pregame video-board tribute of his 11 seasons in Cleveland in which he won three manager of the year awards, four division titles, six playoff berths and a franchise-record 921 managerial wins.
A series sealed with a kiss?
'Do whatever it takes, man,' Francona said, laughing, when asked about kissing the bat. 'He was looking for a little help. I gave it to him. We're in this together, man. I'll do whatever.'
Advertisement
If anything, Francona's return to Progressive Field for the first time since a short-lived 'retirement' following the 2023 season was an hours-long Kiss-Cam feature and love fest for the Guardians' beloved former manager.
Reds injuries Hunter Greene specialist Why Cincinnati Reds ace Hunter Greene left team for second medical opinion in Los Angeles
Reds pitching moves prospect Chase Burns Chase Burns, Reds' top pitching prospect, promoted to Triple-A Louisville
That included a pregame video-board tribute to the guy who managed Cleveland to its first World Series (2016) since 1997 and fans wearing, and waving, 'Thank You Tito' T-shirts.
Advertisement
'That was meaningful to me,' said Francona, whose only wish was that the video included more of longtime bench coach Brad Mills and other key figures from that time. 'I was kind of uncomfortable, but it was very touching.'
Maybe not as up close and touching as he got to CES' bat. But for at least one day in Cleveland, it was all about the Reds manager.
Center fielder TJ Friedl celebrates with Gavin Lux after hitting a solo home run in the fifth inning June 9. The homer gave the Reds a 4-3 lead and they would not trail again.
In 11 seasons in Cleveland, Francona won three manager of the year awards in this place, four division titles, six playoff berths, a franchise-record 921 managerial wins, and, on this night, another 'America's Cup' – or whatever you want to call it.
Advertisement
Asked before the game his reaction to returning to the ballpark for the first time since his intended retirement nearly two years ago, Francona talked about 'a lot of thoughts' rushing through him.
'I mean, it's an America's Cup game, with the added pressure,' he deadpanned. 'I had 11 really fun years here, and I had some great relationships. That never changes. But we're trying to figure out a way to beat them. That's why we're here. That'll never take away how I feel about people.'
Whether you call it the Ohio Cup or America's Cup, the Reds clinched it for the first time since 2014 – Francona's second season managing in Cleveland.
"Bigger than the Stanley Cup. America's Cup," Francona said from the visitor's office off the Reds' clubhouse, where the big, silver Ohio Cup trophy stood on a table surrounded by bottles and cans of celebration beverages.
Wade Miley allowed three runs in five innings and earned his first victory since Tommy John surgery. Miley worked around five hits and four walks.
Whether the kissed bat helped, Encarnacion-Strand's RBI was his seventh in four games since returning from a lengthy lower-back injury.
Advertisement
Which, of course, means CES will ask for another barrel kiss every game for the foreseeable future.
"No, no, no," Encarnacion-Strand said. "You can't use it all the time or it stops working."
Got it.
So for now it's just Hot in Cleveland for Francona. At least on this night.
'I think we all kind of knew how much he meant to this city,' said Reds leadoff man TJ Friedl, who reached base three times, scored twice and homered Monday. 'But to see the tribute video to him and just to see how loved he was by the city was cool. He's a great manager, a great person, someone I've really enjoyed playing for, for sure.'
Advertisement
Left fielder Will Benson all but cinched the Frank Robinson Most Outstanding Player Award for the all-Ohio series when he reached base three more times and scored in the Tito Love Fest victory.
That made Benson 8-for-15 with four home runs, a walk and eight RBIs in the four wins.
Jake Fraley reached three times, including a home run.
And in his first start of the season, veteran lefty Wade Miley pitched five innings (three runs on five hits, four walks) to earn the win – pitching in ace Hunter Greene's spot in the rotation on the day it was revealed Greene had flown to Los Angeles to seek a second opinion on his groin injury and back pain.
Advertisement
Francona deflected most of the warm-and-fuzzy questions about his warm-and-fuzzy return to Cleveland, many of his answers reflecting the bottom-line sentiment he expressed during spring training when he said, 'I'm a f*%#!&* Red.'
'I had a really good time here. People were so nice to me,' he said. 'But I'm here now. And I love being here. I just really wanted us to win.'
That doesn't mean he didn't have a bounce in his step, especially as another win played out – the Reds' fourth straight overall.
Whether it was the kissed bat. Or the warm greetings from stadium workers and Guardians personnel.
Advertisement
Or maybe even trying to figure out which old pal might be trying to prank him in his return engagement.
'They already hid every cribbage board in the building,' he said. 'We had to go buy one. Bastards.'
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Cincinnati Reds give Terry Francona triumphant return to Cleveland