The Cincinnati Reds’ series-opening loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates was an undeniable setback and disappointment, but manager Terry Francona still strategically deployed some levity afterward.
In his news conference following the defeat, and looking out at the coming day’s game in which the Reds would send their ace, Hunter Greene, out to face Cy Young Award favorite Paul Skenes, Francona said: “I wish our guy was going and then maybe this guy’s brother.”
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A room full of reporters laughed. Francona smirked.
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Inside the Reds’ clubhouse, the players seemed to follow Francona’s lead. Players were appropriately quiet and hushed in their conversations, but not altogether defeated or forlorn. For some there, it was their first experience in a final-week postseason push. For all, the circumstances appeared manageable.
The Reds players, including starting pitcher Brady Singer, the loser in the season opener against the Pirates, have bought in to manager Terry Francona’s day-by-day approach all season. “Tomorrow’s a new day. We’ve still got games to play,” Singer said.
“Just come out tomorrow and play our game,” Reds pitcher Brady Singer said. “Obviously, we know we’ve got to win. We kind of control what we can do and kind of flush this one. Tomorrow’s a new day. We’ve still got games to play.”
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Cincinnati entered the Sept. 23 game against the Pirates in control of its playoff destiny. Tied with the New York Mets in the race for the National League’s final wild card spot, the Reds held the tiebreaker advantage by virtue of winning the season series against New York.
The 4-2 loss to Pittsburgh meant Cincinnati (80-77) risked losing that advantage. When the Mets (81-76) beat the Chicago Cubs later, the Reds found themselves playing catchup in the playoff race again.
The Reds trailed the Mets by a full game after the series opening loss, and were tied with the Arizona Diamondbacks (80-77), who beat the Los Angeles Dodgers Sept. 23. The Reds also hold the head-to-head tiebreaker advantage over the Diamondbacks.
Just as they had almost every night of the 2025 season, though, Cincinnati was composed in defeat. They knew their task had become harder even before the Mets’ victory went final, but their familiar, collective, even-keeled mindset prevailed.
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“Keep playing. Keep playing,” Francona said. “It wasn’t that long ago we were in Sacramento and it was not looking good. Keep playing because nobody has a crystal ball. I don’t know how this week’s gonna go. We play tonight and then we’ll regroup and hopefully play tomorrow.”
If you’ve been around the team enough or watched enough of Francona’s post-game messaging, you know the message isn’t likely to change now. Just try to win the game in front of you.
So, why joke and smile at a time such as post-game Sept. 23? It’s not that Francona’s unaffected. On the contrary, he said before the game he donned his full uniform before 10 a.m. These games still make his palms sweat, and he loves it.
Scott Barlow combined with Connor Phillips and Graham Ashcraft for 3 2/3 innings of shutout relief, but the offense could never overcome the Pirate’s four-run second inning.
Francona, a winner of two World Series and more than 2,000 games in his managerial career, has been here before.
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The reason the Reds are alive with five games to play is likely because they don’t get too high with the big wins or too low after defeats like the one they endured in an otherwise sharp and well-played game Sept. 23.
“You gotta keep going,” Reds second baseman Matt McLain said. “That’s the game. Some things didn’t go our way. Didn’t take the at-bats we needed but we’ll be there tomorrow.”
Reporters hunting for hyperbole and superlatives from this Reds clubhouse are more than likely going to come up empty-handed. Before the Reds-Pirates series started, Francona chuckled before repeating his stance on what others viewed as a pressure-cooker game.
Francona sees them all the same, no one contest larger or more important than any other.
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“Again, this is probably gonna shock the socks off you,” Francona said. “The best thing we can do is see if we can win tonight. That’s the best way to go about it. That’s the only way I know − it’s the best way.”
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: ‘It’s the best way.’ The Reds are ready to move forward from Pirates defeat