CLEVELAND, Ohio - Terry Francona’s final home game in Cleveland came to an emotional — as well as nail-biting — conclusion.
With much of the game’s 28,915 attending fans sporting “Thank You Tito” shirts, the Guardians closed out a 4-3 win over the Cincinnati Reds to earn the season's Ohio Cup and cap off their home slate for the year.
With the tying run at the plate, Emmanuel Clase’s final face-off with Elly De La Cruz in the top of the 9th inning came alongside chants of “Tito! Tito! Tito!”
“It was bone-chilling,” Guardians outfielder Steven Kwan described the game’s final frame. “That was louder than any chant we had all year. I think it made everyone hang on to each pitch. That just made that ninth inning really fun.”
Clase would retire De La Cruz on a grounder to first, igniting the celebration and honoring of Francona. With a standing ovation from his home crowd after 11 seasons managing their club, Francona remained matter-of-fact but felt the appreciation from the local faithful.
“It was really touching, don’t get me wrong,” Francona stated after the game. “I was smart enough to pick a place where I believed in the people. That [feeling] only grew, and I think anybody who’s spent 10 minutes with me knows how much I like it here…It was a good decision that just seems like it got better.”
The Guardians played inspired baseball for much of their final home stand, jumping out to a 4-0 lead after the first four innings as Shane Bieber (6-6) earned his first victory following his return from the injured list. Cleveland’s ace retired 12 consecutive hitters during his six-inning outing, in which he allowed five hits and one earned run while striking out seven and walking none.
After the game, Bieber described the feeling of pitching in the final home game of the only manager he’s ever known in his six major league seasons: “I’d be lying to you if I said it didn’t mean a little bit more tonight. It was easy to anticipate and get amped up for.”
Cleveland managed an early barrage of hits, including five in the bottom of the 2nd inning against Reds starter Andrew Abbott (8-6). Tyler Freeman and Brayan Rocchio each recorded RBI hits in the frame, while Kwan added a run-scoring single in the top of the third. José Tena drove in a run in the bottom of the 4th inning off reliever Daniel Duarte.
“It was nice to see…guys chip in,” Francona stated. “These are good development games for these guys. They’re going to learn something.”
Many of those young players tried to keep their manager on the field for further ovations from the crowd, which Francona sheepishly tried to waive off.
“I was like, ‘Come on, man, enough,’” Francona smirked. “I think that’s why they were doing it, because they knew I was feeling it. Believe me, down deep, I was really touched.”
“He keeps that really good poker face,” Kwan chuckled when asked if Francona looked emotional. “Maybe he’ll have a little private moment tonight, but I think he held it together pretty good today.”
“Manager face,” outfielder Ramón Laureano jokingly described.
The Guardians would keep their four-run lead until Bieber was tagged for a 6th-inning run on Jonathan India’s RBI double. Cincinnati would later score a pair of runs in the 8th inning off reliever Trevor Stephan, who settled down and retired his final three batters.
Clase’s 43rd save of the season — a career-high for the reigning All-Star — saw a 1-out scare from Noelvi Marte, who tried to stretch a single into a double to get the tying run in scoring position. However, Laureano nailed a throw to second base to retire Marte for his second web gem of the night, after Laureano made a diving catch in the top of the 5th.
With his final home game in the books, Francona reflected on his time spent with the Guardians: “The 11 years here are what is the best part. It’s not, like, the last day. It’s everything I lived through here with the people I was with. That’s what I care about.”
Sep 27, 2023; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Guardians manager Terry Francona (77) waves to cheering fans after a video tribute in his honor was broadcast on the scoreboard before a game against the Cincinnati Reds at Progressive Field© David Richard-USA TODAY Sports
When asked if he had any message to the fans, Francona answered: “Tonight, it would just be…thank you. I have tried to do my best all the time. Sometimes, it’s been better than others, but I appreciate my time here very much. I hope they support these guys moving forward, because there’s a lot to like. We didn’t get things accomplished this year, like we wanted. That doesn’t mean it’s not going to happen.”
Francona and the Guardians will play their final series in Detroit, beginning on Friday.
