|
 Freeman capped his 13th multi-hit game of the year with a single
that drove in the winning run in the bottom of the 10th inning and
gave the Braves a 3-2 victory over the Chicago Cubs.
"He comes up big in those situations," Atlanta manager Fredi
Gonzalez said. "He did a terrific job."
Freeman has emerged from an 8-for-53 stretch that dropped his
batting average below .300; he is 8-for-15 over the last four games.
He was 3-for-4 on Friday.
"It was a good overall win," Freeman said. "We had a great-pitched
game and we actually scored more than they did."
After Braves closer Craig Kimbrel blew a one-run lead in the bottom
of the ninth, the Braves came back to win it in the 10th. Right
fielder Jason Heyward walked to lead off the 10th against
left-handed reliever Wesley Wright. Heyward appeared to be picked
off but wound up with his sixth stolen base when the throw went
wide.
After Justin Upton was intentionally walked, Freeman drove in the
winning run with a single up the middle that allowed Heyward to
score with ease. Freeman has a team-leading 20 RBIs.
 "It puts a smile on my face," Freeman said. "When they intentionally
walk someone to get to you, it lights a fire under your butt."
Wright (0-1) had made 11 straight scoreless appearances and had
never allowed a hit to either Heyward or Freeman.
"It happens sometimes," Cubs manager Rick Renteria said. "Today
wasn't a day that it worked out for us."
Alex Wood (3-5) got the win in his first relief appearance of the
season. The left-hander allowed one hit and struck out two in one
scoreless inning.
The Cubs rallied for a run to tie the score at 2 in the top of the
ninth against Kimbrel, who blew his second save in 11 opportunities.
Kimbrel gave up a leadoff single to left fielder Chris Coghlan, who
reached second when Emilio Bonifacio's grounded out to the
shortstop. Center fielder Ryan Kalish singled to left field to drive
in Coghlan, who scored without a throw when Upton allowed the ball
to carom off his leg.
Atlanta wasted another quality start from right-hander Julio
Teheran, who has not won since April 16 despite allowing only five
runs in his last 30 innings. He allowed one run and one hit in eight
innings, striking out nine and walking two.
"He's been like that for a while," Gonzalez said. "He got his
secondary pitches over and he competes. He goes after the hitters.
Those are all good ingredients for success."
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Right-hander Jason Hammel pitched well for the Cubs but also
received insufficient run support. Hammel allowed two runs in seven
innings. He allowed seven hits, all of them coming from the middle
three batters in Atlanta's lineup. He struck out five and walked
one.
"Hammel did a nice job again," Renteria said. "He ate up some
innings and tried to save us in the bullpen."
The Cubs scored first on a long solo home run from third baseman
Mike Olt, his seventh homer of the season, in the third. It was the
third straight game in which Olt homered.
The Braves answered by scoring twice with two outs in the bottom of
the inning. Freeman singled and went to third when catcher Evan
Gattis singled. Freeman and Gattis, who moved to second on a wild
pitch, both scored on a line single by third baseman Chris Johnson
-- his sixth and seventh RBIs of the season.
"The middle of the order got us some good at-bats," Gonzalez said.
The Cubs had no luck against Teheran. Kalish walked in the first but
was thrown out trying to steal second. Olt walked on four pitches
with two outs in the eighth, ending a streak of 17 consecutive outs
by Teheran, but the inning ended when catcher John Baker grounded
into a fielder's choice.
NOTES: Despite rallying to send the game to extra innings, the Cubs
are 0-18 when they trail entering the ninth inning. ... Atlanta will
start RHP Aaron Harang on Sunday instead of LHP Alex Wood in the
series finale against the Cubs. Wood will pitch out of the bullpen
until his next scheduled start on May 17 in St. Louis. ... Harang
celebrated his 35th birthday on Friday. ... A late afternoon storm
caused the Turner Field ground crew to cover the infield around 6
p.m. The game start 18 minutes later than scheduled.
[© 2014 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.]
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