Los Angeles Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman endured one problem his entire career: Max Scherzer.
Advertisement
Entering Monday’s matchup against the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre, Freeman had a .208 batting average in 63 plate appearances against the former Cy Young Award winner.
Freeman also struck out 15 times.
Well, make it 16.
Scherzer struck out Freeman on three pitches.
The next Dodger batter, Teoscar Hernández, hit a two-run home run, propelling the Dodgers to a 14-2 victory.
Scherzer, out due to forearm tendonitis, lasted only two innings and did not face Freeman a second time.
Fortunately for Freeman.
Freddie Freeman thrives with Max Scherzer out
With Josh Fleming replacing Scherzer in the top of the third inning, the reliever immediately gave up an infield single to Shohei Ohtani, who took second on the reliever’s throwing error. With one out, the 17-year veteran hit a 438-foot home run to right center field, extending the Dodgers’ lead to 4-1.
Advertisement
The Dodgers scored the next 10 runs. Freeman added a run-scoring double off reliever Tommy Nance in the seventh inning, going 2 for 4 with two runs scored and two RBIs. Hernandez also recorded two hits and four RBIs as the Dodgers improved to 8-2.
Freeman needed a big performance.
Entering Monday with a .237 batting average, the highlight of Freeman’s season unfolded on Saturday. He hit his 550th career double, moving him to 32nd on the MLB all-time list.
Freeman, a standout with the Atlanta Braves for 12 seasons, surpassed former Braves icon and friend Chipper Jones.
Advertisement
“I know he’ll tell me he still has me at home runs,” Freeman said, as reported by Yahoo Sports. “But yeah, Chipper has meant a lot to me.”
On Monday, it meant a lot to Freeman not to have to face Scherzer after his first at-bat.