First baseman Freddie Freeman is finding SunTrust to be a hitter-friendly park, and the Braves are surging since moving to the suburbs.
-ESPN ClubhouseFreddie Freeman was the second-best hitter in the second half last year behind only Joey Votto, and he's picked right up, going 4-for-4 with two HRs and two doubles in a 5-4 win over the Padres to raise his season line to .400 with an .867 slugging percentage. So much for needing Matt Kemp as "protection."
The Atlanta Braves' first walk-off hit in each of their 3 ballparks: Hank Aaron (Atlanta Stadium), Andrew Jones (Turner Field) and Dansby Swanson (SunTrust Park).
ESPNFreddie Freeman making himself at home in new digs
According to ESPN Stats & Information research, going back to June 15 of last season, Freeman's 29 homers are the most of anyone in the senior circuit. With a two-homer outburst in Monday's 5-4 walk-off win over San Diego, Freeman has now homered five times in 12 games, after needing 30 games to get there a season ago.
"I feel good," Freeman said. "I've felt good pretty much since spring training. Hopefully I can keep this going."
And these very friendly confines promise to be particularly friendly for Freeman. He added a pair of doubles to his pair of homers during his 4-for-4 performance, giving him a career-best 12 total bases.
"He's going to like this park," Snitker said. "He's just been swinging the bat so good since day one. He's an elite hitter."
"It's a great place to play," Freeman said. "On a Monday night, fans came out and supported us, and we played good the whole game."