Free agent phenom Freddie Freeman, 34, became the first Los Angeles Dodger in 94 years to record 20 home runs, 20 doubles, 200 hits and 100 RBI in a single season.
Freeman started at second base and hit a three-run homer in the eighth inning of the Dodgers’ 8-2 victory over the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field in Denver, Colorado, on Monday (Aug. 28).
With runners on first and second with two outs in the eighth inning and a 5-2 lead, he took advantage of a pitcher’s changeup. He pulled a 94.4-mph (151.9-kilometer) 메이저사이트 vsinker on the body of Colorado side arm Justin Lawrence’s first pitch over the right-field fence. It hit 103.1 mph (165.9 km/h), traveled 412 feet (125.6 m), and had a 30-degree launch angle. It was his 28th home run of the season, pushing him past 100 RBIs (101).
Freeman’s fourth 100-RBI season individually. He had 109 in 2013 and 121 in 2019 while with the Atlanta Braves, and 100 last year in his first year as a free agent with the Dodgers. Until this year, it was his first back-to-back 100-RBI seasons.
According to local media, including the Associated Press, Freeman said, “100 RBIs is a good record. I like it. It’s my favorite record,” he laughed. He is the third Dodger to reach 100 RBIs, joining Mookie Betts (106) and Max Muncy (104), with J.D. Martinez closing in on 100 with 98.
“Looking at the scoreboard, I realize how many RBIs me and Martinez need,” Freeman said, “and I’m going to do everything I can to help him get them over the next couple days.” Never before in Dodger history have four players collected 100 RBIs in a season.
To date, Freeman has played in 157 of the team’s 158 games, batting .622 (207-for-622) with 28 home runs, 101 RBI, 128 runs scored, 72 walks, 119 strikeouts and 23 stolen bases for a .412 on-base percentage, .568 slugging percentage and .980 OPS. He ranks second in the National League (NL) in hits, runs, and slugging percentage, third in batting average, fourth in on-base percentage and OPS, and 10th in RBI.
The first Dodger first baseman ever to hit 20 home runs and 20 doubles, Freeman added 200 hits and 100 RBIs. Freeman became the first Dodger to hit 20 homers, 20 doubles, 200 runs and 100 RBI in a season in 94 years, since Babe Hermann in 1929 with the former Brooklyn club. In 1929, Hermann hit 21 homers, 21 doubles, 217 hits and 113 RBIs.
Meanwhile, the Dodgers won 8-2 on Sunday behind a batting explosion and a six-inning, five-hit (two home runs), two-strikeout performance from rookie starter Emmitt Schoen. Schichen improved to 4-1 on the season with a 4.92 ERA and recorded his first career 10-strikeout game at Coors Field, the graveyard of pitchers. He threw a mix of sliders (25), changeups (15) and sweepers (4) centered around a four-seam fastball (40) that topped out at 96.3 mph (155.0 km/h) and averaged 95.3 mph (153.4 km/h).
The Dodgers went 2-1 in the three-game series against Colorado, with the rookies shining. On Saturday, Ryan Peppiott pitched six innings of five-hit ball (one homer) with one walk and nine strikeouts, and on Sunday, starter Bobby Miller pitched seven innings of seven-hit ball (one homer) with nine strikeouts and two walks to earn his 11th win of the season.
Freeman, who watched rookies pitch well at Coors Field for the third straight game, said, “This place can be intimidating for young pitchers. A hit can turn into a double, and a big inning can happen in an instant. In that regard, the way Peppiott, Miller and Sheahen handled themselves was very impressive.”
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