With a slew of Braves players on the injured list, it was cause for concern when first baseman Freddie Freeman left in the sixth inning of Saturday's, 11-5, win over the Chicago White Sox.
Freeman had taken a pitch to the left foot in the second inning but stayed in the game, with Braves manager Brian Snitker saying postgame that Freeman’s foot had been sore.
However, Freeman gave the green light Sunday morning, per Snitker, and returned to the lineup for Atlanta’s final game against Chicago at SunTrust Park.
“We were going to wait and see how he was when he woke up,” Snitker said. “He felt OK leaving last night but you never know, when you sleep on it. He woke up and he felt good. … He knows his body and what he needs to perform. That’s kind of why we got him out of the game early, yesterday, so he could get it treated and have him potentially ready to play today.”
It’s a good thing he did.
Freeman went on to carry the Braves to a 5-3 win with two two-run homers, bringing him to 38 home runs so far. He went 3-for-4 with five RBIs, tying a career-high. Per Freeman, although X-rays were negative, he played through a bone bruise and some pain.
“If it ain’t broke, I’ll be in there,” Freeman said after Sunday’s game.
