Francona has chest pain, doesn't managing Indians on Tuesday

WASHINGTON (AP) — Terry Francona did not manage the Cleveland Indians on Tuesday night against the Washington Nationals after complaining of chest pain while speaking to reporters before the game.

The Indians said Francona was examined by the Nationals Park EMT and did not require a trip to the hospital. Bench coach Brad Mills, who replaced him as manager for the 3-1 victory , said Francona went back to the hotel to rest as a precaution.

"Knowing him he was probably really agonizing during the game," Mills said. "But I think he's doing fine hopefully, and we'll see how it works out for tomorrow."

The Indians play the Nationals on Wednesday afternoon in the finale of the two-game series.

The 57-year-old Francona has twice suffered a pulmonary embolism. In 2006 he joined others around baseball to educate people on deep-vein thrombosis.

In his pregame meeting with reporters in the visitor's dugout, Francona at one point paused and grabbed his sternum. He continued discussing the matters of the day while joking about his pain.

"I don't think I'm having a heart attack," Francona said. "If I'm having one, just don't take my answers if they're bad answers."

Asked if he was OK, Francona responded: "I hope so."

Mills didn't have any details about Francona's condition but was glad to see him before the game and in the early going.

"Everybody cares about him and everybody likes him," Mills said. "It was good that they were able to see him at least walk from the training room to his office and so I think that really helped."

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