The Los Angeles Dodgers extended their winning streak to seven games with a series-opening victory against the Atlanta Braves, but the story of the night was Freddie Freeman.
Entering the game Freeman was still looking for his first home run in a Dodgers uniform. As he stepped up to the plate against his former club, it didn’t take long for the Southern California native to change that.
On an 0-1 pitch, Freeman belted a ball into left-center field to put the Dodgers up 1-0 as more “FREDD-IE” chants reverberated throughout Dodger Stadium.
That score remained until the fourth inning saw the Dodgers explode. Justin Turner hit a leadoff double, which was followed by a single from Will Smith. Cody Bellinger then drove in Turner on a groundout to first base.
FIRST HOMER AS A DODGER? FREDDIE, SET, GO. pic.twitter.com/w0cEUXCtiG
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) April 19, 2022
Welcome to LA where the players play. pic.twitter.com/pps1QUGXFZ
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) April 19, 2022
Clear the bases, @treavturner! pic.twitter.com/p0NrxieFaz
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) April 19, 2022
BELLI BOMB. pic.twitter.com/cfPEM8zlYi
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) April 19, 2022
Wake up, new victory formation tweet. pic.twitter.com/q3dKiTjJug
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) April 19, 2022
But the scoring didn’t stop there. Edwin Ríos singled to drive in Smith before Mookie Betts and Freeman followed with walks.
As the Dodgers were still looking for their signature big inning, Trea Turner swung at a 2-1 pitch and doubled on a line drive to left field, which cleared the bases and made the score 6-0.
The Braves came back with one run in the fifth inning, then scored three more in the sixth inning to cut the Dodgers’ lead to just two runs.
In the eighth, Bellinger added some insurance by hitting his second home run of the season to put the Dodgers up 7-4.
Dodgers pitching strong throughout most of the game
Clayton Kershaw started the game and pitched four scoreless innings before allowing a run in the fifth on a solo home run. The veteran southpaw went back on the mound for the sixth inning but failed to record an out as he allowed another solo home run and left the game with two runners on base.
Brusdar Graterol relieved and allowed both runs to score, but that was it. Following Graterol, Daniel Hudson and Phil Bickford both pitched a scoreless inning before Craig Kimbrel shut the door in the ninth.
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