[OSEN=Scientific Reporter] Another standing ovation at the stadium he had called home for 12 years. But it didn’t take long for it to turn into boos. Freddie Freeman, 34, was ringing in his hometown team, the Atlanta Braves, as a member of the Los Angeles Dodgers.메이저놀이터
Freeman batted 2-for-5 with a home run and three RBIs in the Dodgers’ 8-6 win over the Braves on Sept. 23.
Freeman, who was a franchise star in Atlanta for 12 years after his debut in 2010, earning MVP honors and winning a World Series title, became a free agent with the Dodgers before the season last March. Negotiations broke down after his agent failed to keep him fully informed, and Freeman signed a six-year, $162 million deal with the Dodgers, leaving his longtime Atlanta home.
When Freeman visited Atlanta’s home ballpark, Truiste Park, as an enemy for the first time on June 25-27 last year, he was moved to tears by the hospitality of the home fans. He also cleared up any misunderstandings he had with the Atlanta organization, including general manager Alex Anthopoulos. Freeman, who went 4-for-12 with a home run and an RBI in the three-game series, led the Dodgers to a 2-1 sweep.
Unlike a year ago, there were no tears in Freeman’s eyes during this visit. He came to Atlanta with a smile on his face and happily removed his helmet to a standing ovation from the hometown fans during his first at-bat.
But Atlanta had no mercy. He struck out swinging in his first at-bat, but came back to lead off the fourth inning with a double, setting the stage for a two-run rally. In the fifth, he blasted a solo home run to make it 6-4. As Freeman rounded the bases after the home run, boos could be heard from the stands.
[Photo] Freddie Freeman (right) slides in after hitting a double. ⓒGettyimages (All rights reserved)
Freeman followed that up with an RBI single to left in the bottom of the ninth inning to give Atlanta a three-hit game. MLB.com wrote, “Freeman’s three-run homer in the fifth inning was the difference in the Dodgers’ 8-6 comeback win. The cheers that Freeman had enjoyed for 12 years at Truiste Park turned to boos.
“I was more emotionally calm than last year,” Freeman said. “My dad wasn’t here last year, and he was here today. I wanted to do well for him. I struck out in my first at-bat, but I was able to settle down after that.”
Freeman, who is in the midst of a 12-game hitting streak that began on April 11 against the Milwaukee Brewers, has exploded to a 4-for-58 (22-for-48) batting average with four home runs, 17 RBIs and a 1.414 OPS during that stretch. For the season, he’s 49-for-55 (8-for-64) with nine homers, 31 RBIs and a .968 OPS in 49 games, including a National League-leading 18 doubles, as he continues his stellar play as a free agent for the second straight year.