Boston ? Red Sox manager Terry Francona was released from a hospital Friday, two days after experiencing chest pains that doctors said likely were caused by a virus.

Francona complained of tightness in his chest and was hospitalized Wednesday in New York. He later was transferred to Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston for more testing.

Team physician Dr. Thomas Gill said Friday that tests showed no evidence of a serious heart problem and that Francona’s chest pains probably were caused by “a recent viral illness.”

“He will be monitored over the weekend by the Red Sox medical staff, and should be ready to return to the bench on Monday for the team’s home opener,” Gill said in a statement. “He is in good spirits, and is extremely eager to return to the team.”

The Red Sox are scheduled to receive their World Series rings in Monday’s home opener against the Yankees. Bench coach Brad Mills will continue to serve as interim manager for this weekend’s three-game series in Toronto.

“As much as I want to return to my responsibilities, the medical people have made it clear I should wait a couple of days,” Francona said in a statement. “In the meantime, I’ll be watching the games on TV, second-guessing Millsie and counting the hours until I can return to the dugout and get back to work.”

Mills said Francona was eager to get back.

“He was very much relieved that the blockage is not what they had feared,” Mills said.