By luring manager Terry Francona out of retirement, the Cincinnati Reds proclaimed their desire to play meaningful baseball again.

And they are. When they host the transition year Cardinals this weekend, the Reds will be fighting to stay in the National League wild card race.

The Reds were gaining ground until they hit speed bumps on the road, losing six of seven games on their latest excursion. Their trip ended with a thud! -– a three-game sweep against the mighty Los Angeles Dodgers.

Now they are four games back of the New York Mets for the final wild card spot on this side of the majors.

So they will have plenty at stake at the Great American Small Park this weekend.

“I just told our guys we can choose to make the next five weeks like the best five baseball weeks of our life,” Fran

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