Braves star Freddie Freeman spoke with reporters after Wednesday night’s game, discussing the two first-inning fastballs that led to the ejection of Nationals starting pitcher Sean Nolin. The first sailed behind Freeman. The second drilled him in the hip.
Here’s what Freeman had to say:
On whether he expected retaliation after Braves closer Will Smith hit Nationals star Juan Soto with a pitch in the ninth inning Tuesday night: “I wasn’t really thinking anything of that, but you know it’s always in the back of your head when Juan got hit last night. That’s kind of where I was at. But I wasn’t expecting two of them.”
On his conversation at the visitor’s dugout with Nationals manager Dave Martinez: “I understand the game of baseball, so I just went over there to talk to him and just express that Will had told us that it wasn’t on purpose (the night before) and stuff like that. But I said I completely understand. This is the game of baseball. I get it. I just didn’t like the fact that it was two times. You can’t do two. You got one chance, you’ve got to hit me. … But when you miss the first time, that’s your one chance. That’s all you get.
“I expressed that to (home plate umpire) Lance (Barksdale) when (Nolin) missed me. I said, ‘Lance, that’s all he gets. If he does (it) again, he’s got to go. That is clear intent.’ So when he hit me, I said, ‘Lance, I’m sorry, but that is two times. That is clear intent.’ You can get ... away with (one), and we would all have moved on and been fine. But when you do two times, you can’t do that. But I understand the situation. There’s no hard feelings from me. I get it.”
On his on-field conversation with Soto: “I was just letting him know Will had told me it wasn’t on purpose, just to kind of clear the air. ... And I said I respect your game. He’s one of the best young hitters in this game, and unfortunately I have to see it 19 times a year. It was just having a nice conversation. I think we both understand how the game works. ... Everything was good. Everything was positive that came out of that. So I think we can move on from here.”
On losing the game 4-2 despite the Nationals’ bullpen having to cover 8-2/3 innings: “I’m more frustrated right now, not because I got hit by a pitch, that I lined out with the chance to tie the game hitting a home run there (with two out and a runner on base in the bottom of the ninth).
“I guess the only good thing is they’re going to be tired for (Thursday), and we’ve got to win the series. ... They’re going to want (Thursday starter Erick Fedde) to go deep into the game, so hopefully we can get on him quick and get him out and get into their bullpen again.”
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