Cincinnati Reds manager Terry Francona left Great American Ball Park a couple hours before game time on Sept. 6 because of a worsening case of the flu-like bug that has been going through the Reds clubhouse and that has affected the manager for several days.
Bench coach Freddie Benavides, who was forced to stay home earlier in the week for the same illness, is the Reds’ acting manager for the second game of a three-game series against the New York Mets.
Reds bench coach Freddie Benavides and manager Terry Francona during a game in April.
The Mets beat the Reds 5-4 in the series opener Sept. 5 when the Reds failed to score after loading the bases with nobody out against Mets closer Edwin Diaz.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Cincinnati Reds manager Terry Francona sent home sick ahead of game