The Cincinnati Reds’ season came to an end on Wednesday with an 8-4 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers, who clinched the National League Wild Card series behind a relentless offense. Cincinnati made another late push, but their rally fell short. After his first year managing the Reds, Terry Francona reflected on the outcome.
“It’s tough to process right now because it’s so fresh. Everyone’s hurting. At the end of the day, only one team finishes on its own terms, and this year it wasn’t us. The season doesn’t gradually fade out—it just stops, and that’s not easy to accept. From Day 1, I thought this was a special group. We fell short of our ultimate goal, but that doesn’t diminish the pride me and the staff feel for these players.”
The Reds dismissed David Bell after a disappointing 2024 campaign and turned to the championship-proven Francona. The move paid off quickly, with the team improving from 77 to 83 wins and slipping into the playoffs after the Mets collapsed down the stretch.
Cincinnati’s pitching staff was lights-out in September but faltered once the postseason began, while the offense sputtered and couldn’t generate enough to keep up with the defending champions. They managed to pressure Los Angeles’ depleted bullpen in both games but failed to complete a comeback.
As they enter the offseason, the Reds still have roster gaps to address but are unlikely to make major financial investments. Francona will return to lead a young, talented core now carrying higher expectations.
The Dodgers advance to meet the Philadelphia Phillies in the NLDS, while the Reds head home.
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