WASHINGTON -- Terry Francona did not manage the Cleveland Indians in Tuesday night's 3-1 victory over 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 EMTs and remained at the stadium at the start of the game after it was determined he did not need to go to the hospital. The team called the decision to sit the game out a precautionary one.

"I know that the doctors checked him out and so forth and they just felt it'd be better for him to probably go back to the hotel and he did," said bench coach Brad Mills, who filled in as manager for the night. "Knowing him he was probably really agonizing during the game. But I think he's doing fine hopefully and we'll see how it works out for tomorrow."

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 visitors 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.''

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.