The two-run homer that Freddie Freeman hit Friday was only the third of the season for the Braves’ big first baseman, but the RBIs gave him a team-high 30 in only 135 at-bats. And for him, “steaks” (RBIs) are the thing.
Driving in runs is a priority for Freeman, who led the National League with a .486 average (17-for-35) with runners in scoring position before Sunday night’s series finale against the Mets.
“When guys are on base, I’m so concentrated on just trying to get them in, trying to work the ball up the middle,” said Freeman, who had 12 hits and 11 RBIs in his past nine games, including two RBIs in each of the first two games of the Mets series. “I know I only have (three) homers, and I’m in the middle of the lineup. But I think the homers will come. Just try to hit the ball hard, and I’ll get some air under it sometime.
“If you’re going to start worrying about home runs, your batting average is going to go down. I’m just trying to get guys in, trying to get on base.”
He also had six walks in his past nine games before Sunday, giving him a .450 on-base percentage in that span and raising his season average to .296 and OBP to .371.
But for Freeman, nothing was more important than production with runners on base and in scoring position. He was hitting a robust .415 (27-for-65) with runners on base and .186 (13-for-70) with the bases empty before Sunday.
“Our lineup, one through eight, anybody can hit home runs,” said Freeman, who was tied for eighth on the team in home runs, 11 behind team leader Justin Upton, who was 6-for-30 (.200) with runners in scoring position before Sunday.
“Just try to get on, and when there are people on base — it seems like there’s been a lot on recently — just try to get them in,” Freeman said. “And if it goes over the fence or it doesn’t, it doesn’t matter, just get runs on the board.”
Freeman’s .297 career average with runners on was 47 points higher than his bases-empty average.
Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez believes, like most players do, that some hitters are better than others when it comes to eliminating the noise and focusing on the task at hand with runners are in scoring position. Hitters who might otherwise be of similar caliber, but respond differently when it comes to driving in runs.
Freeman appears to have that knack.
“I believe there’s guys out there that, when there’s RBIs to be had, they get it done,” Gonzalez said. “And (Freeman) is a contact guy, which you need to be to be that guy. You need to put the ball in play. You’ve seen it where with two strikes, he’ll kind of shorten down his swing to just put the ball in play.”
Rasmus reunion: Braves rookie reliever Cory Rasmus remembers the time when he, older brother Colby and younger brother Cyle hit home runs in the same game for Russell County High School in Seale, Ala.
That’s just one of the memories that might get tossed around when the two eldest Rasmus brothers get together this week, first in Canada and then in Atlanta.
Colby plays center field for the Blue Jays, who play the Braves in a pair of two-game series, the first one Monday and Tuesday in Toronto. The timing couldn’t have been much better for the Rasmus boys.
Cory, 25, was called up from Triple-A Gwinnett on May 18 for his first stint in the major leagues, and now he and his brother could face each other in interleague play.
“That’d be awesome,” Cory said of possibly pitching against his brother, who’s 15 months older. “We always joke around about how if I did, what would I do? He says the same thing, what would he do? That’d be crazy.”
The Rasmus family hails from Phenix City, Ala., hometown of Braves pitcher Tim Hudson. Cyle, who’s 15 months younger than Cory, played college ball and had some pro offers, but is focusing instead on a coaching career.
Another younger brother, Casey, is playing Class-A ball in the Cardinals organization.
Cory made his big-league debut last week and gave up two hits (solo homers), two runs and one walk with three strikeouts in 1 2/3 innings.
Tony Rasmus is making the trip to Toronto to see his sons play on opposing teams for the first time at any level.
“It’s very exciting,” Cory said. “Me and Colby always talked about if I were ever to get a chance to get to the big leagues, if I would get to face him or whatever. It’ll be fun.”
As of Sunday, Cory wasn’t sure if he’d stay at his brother’s place for a night in Toronto.
“We’re definitely all going to go grab a bite or something, and I’ll see what he wants to do,” he said. “We’re definitely going to hang out while I’m up there. I’ve been in (professional baseball) since 2006 and he’s been in it since 2005, and we haven’t gotten to see each other throughout the season hardly at all.”
Etc.: Braves reliever Jordan Walden (shoulder) is expected to begin a brief rehab assignment with Triple-A Gwinnett on Monday at Syracuse. Gonzalez said Walden likely would pitch in one or two rehab games before he's activated from the disabled list. … Gonzalez plans to start catchers Evan Gattis and Brian McCann in both games at Toronto, with McCann likely to catch Monday and serve as designated hitter Tuesday, and Gattis at DH on Monday and at catcher Tuesday.
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