Guardians win one for Francona
As the Cleveland crowd chanted for him like never before, Terry Francona tipped his cap to salute their 11 years together.
This was goodbye. A perfect send-off.
Shane Bieber shut down Cincinnati for six innings and the Guardians sent Francona, their beloved manager, off with a victory Wednesday night in his final home game, a 4-3 victory that severely damaged the Reds’ playoff hopes.
After the final out, Francona, who is retiring after 23 seasons, two World Series titles, and the respect of virtually everyone in the sport, stood in line like he always has to shake hands and highfive his players.
He briefly walked down the dugout steps before turning, and with the help of a gentle shove from All-Star third baseman José Ramírez, Francona went back on the field to soak in an ovation to remember.
“I was touched,” Francona said. “I guess what I’m just trying to convey is the 11 years here are what is the best part. It’s not like the last day. It’s everything that I lived through here with the people that I was with and that’s what I care about.”
Like the Guardians, the Reds are in danger of missing the postseason. They fell two games behind the Cubs in the National League wild-card race with just three games left.
Francona was honored before the game with a video tribute that chronicled his long tenure in Cleveland, a run that actually began in his boyhood as his father, Tito Francona, played six seasons as an outfielder with the Indians.
Never wanting the spotlight on anyone but his players, Francona said the image of his father brought out emotions he tried to contain.
“I know I’m not the smartest person in the room by far, but I was smart enough to pick a place where I believed in the people and that only grew,” said Francona. “Anybody that’s ever spent 10 minutes with me knows how much I like it here.”
Orioles close in on AL East title
Adley Rutschman homered and drove in three runs, Grayson Rodriguez pitched into the sixth inning, and the Orioles lowered their magic number to one in the American League East with a 5-1 victory over the Nationals in Baltimore.
The Orioles would have clinched the division with a victory and a loss by second-place Tampa Bay, but the Rays won, 5-0, in Boston. Baltimore will try for its first AL East crown since 2014 on Thursday night when the Red Sox arrive for a four-game series at Camden Yards.
Acuña is first 40-70 player
Ronald Acuña Jr. slid into second base ahead of the throw, adding another slice of history to an already unprecedented season. He grabbed the bag and hoisted it above his head, soaking up the cheers from the home crowd after becoming the charter member of the 40-70 club.
A short time later, Acuña rounded third and barreled for home, diving headfirst across the plate with the run that gave the Braves another comeback victory — and provided baseball's most thrilling player with his MVP statement.
Ozzie Albies drove in Acuña with a 10th-inning single that clinched home-field advantage throughout the NL playoffs for the Braves, who dealt the faltering Cubs another devastating setback by rallying time and time again for a 6-5 victory at Atlanta.
Marlins tie Cubs for wild spot
Jon Berti hit a leadoff homer to complete his cycle for the day and the Marlins pulled even in the race for the final National League playoff spot, beating the Mets, 4-2, for a doubleheader split.
Jesús Sánchez also went deep and the Marlins took advantage of an error by rookie third baseman Brett Baty to score twice in the ninth inning. Miami is tied for the third NL wild card with the Cubs, who lost, 6-5, in 10 innings at NL East champion Atlanta. Both teams are 82-76 with four games left.
Francisco Lindor had three homers and six RBIs in the doubleheader, becoming the fourth Mets player with 30 home runs and 30 stolen bases in a season.
In the opener, Pete Alonso was 4 for 4 with a homer, Lindor drove in four runs and the Mets tagged Braxton Garrett in rolling to an 11-2 rout.
The first game was a makeup after the series opener was postponed Tuesday night because of unplayable field conditions. Mets owner Steven Cohen apologized to the Marlins and their fans on social media for the postponement.
Diamondbacks move closer
Rookie Brandon Pfaadt pitched shutout ball for the second time in three starts, and the Diamondbacks moved closer to a NL wild-card berth by beating the White Sox, 3-0, in Chicago for their eighth win in 10 games. Corbin Carroll hit a tworun double in a three-run third, giving the rookie 76 RBIs, and Tommy Pham had an RBI single for the Diamondbacks . . . Miguel Cabrera hit his 511th home run to help the Tigers take a 4-0 lead over the visiting Royals in a game that was suspended by rain after four innings. Cabrera, who is retiring after this season, tied Mel Ott for 25th on the all-time homer list. The game, which was delayed for 80 minutes, will be resumed Thursday at 1 p.m. before the scheduled series finale . . . Gerrit Cole pitched a two-hitter to near his second AL ERA title, Aaron Judge homered twice, and the Yankees beat the Blue Jays, 6-0, in Toronto.