Cincinnati Reds to Playoffs: They qualify for the Wild Card! Francona and the euphoria.

A moment that was worth it for Terry Francona, that’s how the Cincinnati Reds’ qualification for the postseason could be summarized. The team secured its place in the playoffs on Sunday, unleashing an euphoric and champagne-soaked celebration. According to franchise history data, this is the first time the Reds have clinched a playoff spot on the last day of the regular season.

When you see those guys, it’s unbridled joy. No matter what language you speak, what country you’re from. They embrace each other and it’s real. And it’s worth all the pain and everything we did, just for those minutes.
Terry Francona

Despite losing to the Milwaukee Brewers with a score of 4-2, squandering a 2-0 lead, the Reds secured the third and final National League wild card thanks to the Mets’ loss to the Miami Marlins (4-0). After their game, the Reds gathered in the locker room to watch the last inning of the game between the Mets and the Marlins.

We witnessed the last out and the clubhouse exploded.
Tony Santillan

Cincinnati and New York finished with the same record (83-79), but the Reds won the tiebreaker by having a 4-2 record against the Mets during the season. The next challenge for the Reds will be to face the Los Angeles Dodgers in a best-of-three wild card series, which will begin on Tuesday night. During the regular season, Cincinnati had a 1-5 record against the Dodgers. In the era of 162 games, the only teams that managed to reach the playoffs with fewer than 84 wins were the 1973 Mets (82-79), the 2005 San Diego Padres (82-80), and the 2006 St. Louis Cardinals (83-78). The 1973 Mets and the 2006 Cardinals reached the World Series, with the Cardinals being crowned champions.

As long as you get in, it’s a matter of luck. Anyone can get hot. Anyone can beat anyone.
Gavin Lux

Cincinnati’s playoff berth adds another achievement to Francona’s illustrious career, who in his first year as manager of the Boston Red Sox, led the team to win the World Series in 2004, a title they hadn’t achieved since 1918. He also achieved another championship in 2007 and led Cleveland to the seventh game of the 2016 World Series. Francona’s motivational speech in mid-September, when the Reds were below .500, boosted the team.

After we got swept in Sacramento, Tito came in and basically said, ‘I know I believe in us. I still believe in all of you. I believe in this group.’ We went on like a little run at the end.
Gavin Lux

Cincinnati’s last postseason appearance was in the pandemic-shortened 2020 season, so the last time the Reds made the playoffs in a 162-game season was in 2013. They haven’t won a playoff game since 2012 and their last postseason series win was in 1995.

They thought it would be a miracle that we would get this far, but we believed from the beginning, man. We believed when we were down and out. We believed in spring training. We believed in what we could do and who we are, and we showed it.
Nick Martinez

The Reds benefited from the additions made at the July 31st trade deadline, reinforcing their lineup and infield defense with the arrival of Miguel Andújar and Ke’Bryan Hayes. They also added starting pitcher Zack Littell, which allowed them to strengthen their bullpen by moving Martinez to a relief role.

We went through a difficult moment throughout the season. We all know it. But we stuck together as a team. We stuck together as a family.
Andrew Abbott

The Reds clinched their playoff spot by winning eight of their last 11 games, while the Mets declined. Cincinnati’s comeback included a four-game sweep against the Chicago Cubs, a team that qualified for the playoffs. Subsequently, the Reds suffered two consecutive home losses to Pittsburgh, but won the last game of that series 2-1, with Noelvi Marte robbing Bryan Reynolds of a possible home run that would have tied the game in the ninth inning. The Reds were one game behind the Mets as they headed to Milwaukee to close out the regular season, and the Brewers had won their last 13 series against Cincinnati. However, the Reds won two of three, while the Mets lost two of three in Miami. Now, the Reds head to the playoffs with the aim of continuing to exceed expectations.