Significant Los Angeles Dodgers injuries have been a prevailing theme for the team of late, and they endured a scare with Freddie Freeman during Thursday’s game against the Colorado Rockies.
Freeman went 2-for-5 with one RBI in the Dodgers’ win, their third in four games at Coors Field, with one of his hits being an infield single in the ninth inning.
Freeman appeared to limp after stepping on the bag and he leaned on first base Clayton McCullough as Dodgers manager Dave Roberts and a trainer emerged from the dugout to check on him. Freeman did some light jogging down the line before remaining in the game.
Following the Dodgers’ win, Freeman explained he merely was out of breath after the play, as seen on SportsNet LA:
“That was just the ground moving on me. I gave everything I had in my oxygen tank to beat that ball out. Four games in Denver, a couple hot ones, it was a sneaky hot game today. But I’m OK.”
Freeman added he briefly wore an oxygen mask in the clubhouse, largely at the insistence of Kiké Hernández:
“I did when I came in. Kiké kind of forced it into my face, but I gladly accepted it.”
Focus of playing at Coors Field historically is on how much it benefits batters, but Freeman noted it comes with physical challenges as well:
“We’re all hydrating and doing the best we can. Four days in Colorado is a lot. I think you can talk about the altitude and try to do everything you can, but the first day here was a hot game and the game today was very hot too. I guess I didn’t have much left in there, and I had to beat that ball out. I’m OK. I just needed a little hug from Clayton.”
The first indication that Freeman avoided injury was not being removed, and he also ran normally when breaking up a potential double play. The 34-year-old also played the field in the bottom of the ninth inning.
Freeman has started each of the Dodgers’ 77 games this season, which only Teoscar Hernández has accomplished as well. Roberts removed Hernández early on Wednesday night in effort to get him extra rest ahead of playing a day game.
Freddie Freeman: Dodgers can withstand injuries
Having already been without Max Muncy since May 17, the Dodgers now won’t have Mookie Betts or Yoshinobu Yamamoto for a prolonged stretch as well.
Freeman nevertheless is confident in talent on the Dodgers roster and the group’s ability to continue forging ahead while awaiting reinforcements.
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