SAN DIEGO — Over the previous two seasons, Freddie Freeman has amazed his Dodgers teammates and coaches along with his next-level strategy on the plate.
Freeman, as soon as once more, confirmed why he’s top-of-the-line gamers within the Majors, ending off a 10-pitch at-bat with a three-run homer to guide the Dodgers to an 8-2 victory over the Padres on Sunday at Petco Park. The ten pitches have been essentially the most Freeman has seen in his profession in an at-bat that ended with a house run.
“Clearly, with final night time, it simply modified the momentum shortly proper there,” stated Dodgers supervisor Dave Roberts. “[We were] capable of catch a lead, put collectively an amazing at-bat, end it with a house run. The momentum clearly swayed in our path.”
Padres left-hander Wealthy Hill began the second-inning at-bat with a pair of offspeed pitches that bought Freeman in an early 0-2 gap. Two of the subsequent three pitches have been balls to even the rely, which allowed the Dodgers’ first baseman to be a bit extra selective.
Freeman then confirmed his plate protection, fouling off a four-seamer, a sinker and a sweeper in consecutive pitches. On the ninth pitch of the at-bat, Hill went to a curveball that flirted with the zone however landed for a ball. It was a pitch most hitters within the league would’ve swung at with two strikes, however Freeman wouldn’t chunk.
“I bought down 0-2 fairly shortly, so I used to be simply attempting to maneuver it ahead and hopefully one thing good would occur,” Freeman stated. “However I began seeing an increasing number of pitches, fouled off the warmers away then I took that 2-2 curveball.”
Hill then went again to the sweeper, this time touchdown one within the inner-half of the zone, permitting Freeman to activate it and shoot it into the right-field stands for a three-run homer to present the Dodgers a six-run lead.
“We knew from our hitters assembly that he was heavy breaking ball 3-2, so I used to be simply sort of wanting up within the zone and hoping to see one thing pop,” Freeman stated. “I noticed one thing pop, and I used to be capable of get it.”
For the reason that All-Star break, Freeman is 35-for-84 (.417) with six homers. His total 1.011 OPS is second within the NL behind Braves’ famous person Ronald Acuña Jr. (1.014).
Freeman’s residence run set the tone, however the Dodgers additionally used Mookie Betts’ thirtieth homer of the season, Amed Rosario’s two-run homer and 6 robust innings from Commerce Deadline acquisition Lance Lynn.
Lynn was making his second begin with the Dodgers on Sunday and confirmed indicators of why the membership was aggressive in buying the veteran right-hander. Lynn allowed 4 hits and only one run over six robust innings and earned his second win since becoming a member of the group.
“A bit of little bit of every part, actually,” Lynn stated, when requested what was engaged on Sunday. “Simply to have the ability to assault hitters, transfer the ball round, up, down, in, out. Change a couple of speeds right here or there. See what you bought.”
For the reason that Deadline, the Dodgers’ strikes have panned out simply the way in which they envisioned. They made a sequence of strikes that weren’t essentially splashy, however their lineup has been a lot improved in opposition to left-handed pitching. The addition of Joe Kelly has made the bullpen higher, Saturday’s catastrophe apart. And Lynn has stabilized a depleted rotation simply sufficient.
Within the course of the Dodgers have gained 5 of the six video games because the Aug. 1 Deadline. They’ll go for a sequence win on Monday in opposition to the Padres.
“I feel that with guys like Joe or Kiké [Hernández] who’ve been right here, it’s simpler to sort of challenge,” Roberts stated. “However a number of the newer guys, you simply actually don’t know, as a result of it’s a distinct atmosphere. However for them, it’s a credit score to the fellows within the clubhouse to make them really feel comfy. Lance already is all in on us. It’s actually good to see.”