Atlanta Braves Take Care Of Business On Freddie Freeman’s Birthday

Thursday September 12th marked the day Freddie Freeman turned 24 years of age.  To celebrate…he got to play a baseball game in Miami, Florida and went 3-4 with a two run home run.

Freeman knocked the home run in the 4th inning on a breaking ball that hung just a bit to much…

Sep 12, 2013; Miami, FL, USA; Atlanta Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman hits a single in the ninth inning against the Miami Marlins at Marlins Park. The Braves won 6-1. Mandatory Credit: Robert Mayer-USA TODAY Sports

“I don’t think of myself as a power hitter, I try to stay in between the gaps but he hung one right there and I was able to get extending and flick it out of here,” Freeman said.  “I did not think that was gone because I think that was my first one here so I didn’t know how far I needed to hit it.  I knew I hit it good but I didn’t know it was that good.”

Freeman’s two-run shot served as the first home run he has hit on his birthday at the big league level. It also gave the always entertaining first baseman the opportunity to continue razzing good friend Chipper Jones about the possibility of matching the 14 consecutive 20-homer seasons Jones produced.

“That’s three down and 11 more to go,” Freeman said. “I don’t really set personal goals or anything like that, but I guess I can send him a text message.”

Fredi Gonzalez spoke about the birthday boy’s big night…

“Yeah, Freeman had a two run homer and he’s itching closer and closer to that goal of his, 100 RBI’s.  He swung the bat well, he really did today.”

Our first baseman wasn’t the only Freddie to have a nice game Thursday, Freddy Garcia started on the mound for the Braves and went 6 innings only giving up one run on five hits, with one walk and three strikeouts.  Not a bad game at all for the 36-year-old pitcher.

Since joining the Atlanta roster on Sept. 1, Garcia has made three relief appearances and one start.  The only run he has surrendered prior to Thursday’s game in 13 2/3 innings was Freddy Galvis‘ walk-off home run in Saturday’s loss to the Phillies.

“He knows how to maneuver himself through a Major League lineup,” Fredi Gonzalez said.  “He puts a little on and takes a little off.  He doesn’t give you the same look.”

Other big stars on the day were Chris Johnson who went 3-5 with two RBI’s and now holds a .330 batting average.  Evan Gattis had a huge two RBI double in the 3rd inning to get things started.  Jordan Walden threw in his first game in 19 days.

The Braves came into the Marlins series after getting swept by the Phillies.  Atlanta took three out of four games against Miami.

“That Phillies series was tough, every game was a one run game and he didn’t hit, we didn’t get the ball through the infield when we needed to and to come in here and get three out of four and now we will go home.”

The Braves hold a slight lead still over the LA Dodgers for home field advantage for the NL playoffs.

“You’ve got to battle every day,” Freeman said.  “It’s September and everybody is tired, but we’re going out there and playing hard still.  We went out there today and faced a guy we’d never seen before.  We were able to put some things together and that’s a good sign for us.”

Braves take on the San Diego Padres tomorrow when David Hale takes the mound for the Braves in his first career MLB start.  Hale was 6-9 with a 3.22 ERA and .277 OPP Batting Average in 2013 while playing for Gwinnett.  Braves will take on Ian Kennedy who holds a 6-9 record with a 4.86 ERA and .257 OPP Batting Average.

“We want to win the next three at home and then go into Washington and have some fun there,” said Freeman

Birthday Tweeting…

Freddie Freeman @FreddieFreeman5

Thank you for all the birthday wishes today! Got the greatest bday present today…a W! Magic #6