CLEVELAND (AP) — Shane Bieber shut down Cincinnati for six innings and the Cleveland Guardians sent manager Terry Francona off with a victory in his final home game, 4-3 over the Reds, whose playoff hopes are hanging by a thread.
Bieber limited the Reds to one run and five hits in just his second start since July 15.
The right-hander missed more than two months with elbow inflammation, one of several key injuries that contributed to the Guardians not defending their AL Central title.
The Reds are 1 1/2 games behind Chicago and Miami for the last NL wild card with just three games left.
Francona’s beloved “hog” stolen again
Just hours before Cleveland sent off the popular manager, who is leaving baseball after 11 seasons with the club, with a 4-3 win over Cincinnati, Francona revealed that the celebrated motorized scooter he rode to and from Progressive Field for the past several seasons was stolen for the second time.
Francona said the two-wheeled vehicle was swiped about 10 days ago. It was first stolen in January but recovered by Cleveland Police.
“Been in mourning,” he said. “They got it in the clubhouse under a blanket. Looks like they took a baseball bat to it.”