Braves run out of luck as Freddie’s turns

ATLANTA -- As a frustrated Freddie Freeman listened to his father talk about hard-hit rates and tough-luck stats earlier this week, the reigning National League MVP Award winner got even hotter, while thinking, “I don’t want to hear that. I’d rather hit the ball 42 mph and get a hit.”

Unfortunately for Freeman, that jovial thought would add to this season’s cruelty just a few hours later.

Freeman finally was rewarded for barreling a baseball during the first inning of a 9-5 loss to the Dodgers on Friday night at Truist Park. But his 423-foot home run didn’t prove to be anywhere near as destructive as the two slow-rollers that helped Los Angeles’ offense rise to life during an eight-run fifth.

“The frustration has been there,” Freeman said before this loss. “It’s just kind of accumulated over the past couple months.”

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As the Braves lost for the fifth time in their past seven games, they were embarrassed during the fifth, which began with a no-hit bid still intact. Ian Anderson issued a one-out walk, surrendered a double and then saw the Dodgers score their first run when third baseman Austin Riley’s throw hit Chris Taylor in the back. Luis Urías followed with a sacrifice bunt that resulted in a run when Anderson’s lob to the plate was late.

By the time Sean Newcomb issued consecutive bases-loaded walks, the Braves found themselves back in what has been an all-too-familiar spot this year. They have lost two key position players, their bullpen has been leaky and Freeman has been one of the game’s hardest-luck players this year.

“He had 250 miles-an-hour worth of line drives the other day and had nothing to show for it,” Braves manager Brian Snitker said. “That does get frustrating.”

A few hours later, Freeman seemed to create a great stress reliever when he drilled Urías’ two-strike fastball over the center-field wall. The blast had a 108.5 mph exit velocity. It was his 13th homer of the season, but just the first he had hit since May 18.

Freeman came into Friday’s series opener with a .224 batting average on balls in play. This ranked 140th out of 144 qualified hitters. The home run didn’t help this particular stat, but it did at least aid the psyche of the usually high-energy, upbeat veteran.

“Freddie has just got to hang in there, man,” Snitker said. “The definition of grinding through is what he’s going through. He’ll get through it.”

This entire season has been trying for Freeman. But to better understand just how frustrating the past couple weeks were, consider this: He entered Friday 5-for-15 on hard-hit balls going back to May 19. The .333 batting average he compiled fell short of his .483 expected batting average, and his .844 expected slugging percentage far exceeded the .400 slugging percentage he produced within this 12-game stretch.

“Like my dad said, I can't statistically stay like this,” Freeman said. “If I do, I might have gray hair in September.”

Freeman went 1-for-5 in this latest loss, but both of the balls he put in play had a 100+ mph exit velocity. He is hitting .226 with a .805 OPS, and he hasn’t found much comfort when his good friend and fellow former MVP Chipper Jones reminds him that he, too, tallied a subpar batting average, when he hit .248 while tallying 30 homers in 2004.

“I really don’t want to do that, guys,” Freeman said. “Chipper has been through it all. I’ve been through some tough stretches, but not like this. Usually, it rights the course on its own.”

At the same time, the numbers indicate Freeman’s luck should turn over the final few months of this season. The 48.4 percent hard-hit rate he carried into this series ranked 30th among 144 qualified hitters. But his .390 batting average on hard-hit balls ranked 119th out of 122 players who put at least 50 balls in play at 95 mph or higher this year.

“When you go through it, it's tough,” Freeman said. “But if you keep sticking with your plan and your approach, I feel there's no way I’ll line out all year. I don't think. If I do, my teeth are going to match my hair color.”