Red Sox give manager Francona two-year extension

MIAMI (Reuters) – The Boston Red Sox have given manager
Terry Francona a two-year contract extension through the 2008
season, the club said in a statement.

Francona guided the Red Sox to their first World Series
title in 86 years during his first year in 2004. The Red Sox
went 95-67 during the 2005 season.

He is the first manager to lead Boston into the post-season
in his first two seasons and he won more games (193) than any
other manager in his opening two seasons.

Francona signed a three-year contract worth $1.65 million
before the 2004 season, The Boston Globe reported.

(Writing by Gene Cherry in Raleigh, North Carolina)