Freeman Guides Braves to Win Over Reds

Cincinnati manager Bryan Price was worried when he saw Braves slugger Freddie Freeman hitting only .242 at the start of a four-game series.

Price's worst fears were realized, as Freeman pounded Reds pitching and pumped up his stats.

Freeman homered and singled twice, a day after becoming the first player in the majors to hit for the cycle this season, to lead Atlanta over the Reds 7-2 on Thursday.

Freeman was 10 for 18 with three homers and six RBI in the series. The two-time All-Star first baseman raised his average to .265.

"I was really trying to work on getting good pitches to hit and not just going up there and just trying to swing to hit the ball hard," Freeman said.

Freeman singled in the first inning, then hit a two-run drive in the third that cleared the right field wall and landed in front of the Braves' bullpen.

"Whoever else is coming into town or wherever they're going, they might be in trouble," Price said. "He's some kind of hot right now and we couldn't figure him out."

Freeman has 12 homers as Atlanta's only established power hitter. The Braves are last in the majors with 29 homers, and no other Atlanta player has more than three homers.

Adam Duvall hit his 19th homer and Joey Votto had three hits for the Reds.  -- By ESPN

Thursday, June 16 Scoreboard

Atlanta 7, Cincinnati 2

Seattle 6, Tampa Bay 4

Texas 5, Oakland 1

Toronto 13, Philadelphia 2

Baltimore 5, Boston 1

New York Mets 6, Pittsburgh 4

New York Yankees 4, Minnesota 1

Detroit 10, Kansas City 4

Milwaukee 8, Los Angeles Dodgers 6

Washington 8, San Diego 5

Friday, June 17 Schedule (All Times Central)

Pittsburgh at Chicago Cubs, 1:20 p.m.

Toronto at Baltimore, 6:05 p.m.

Arizona at Philadelphia, 6:05 p.m.

Seattle at Boston, 6:10 p.m.

Chicago White Sox at Cleveland, 6:10 p.m.

Atlanta at New York Mets, 6:10 p.m.

Colorado at Miami, 6:10 p.m.

San Francisco at Tampa Bay, 6:10 p.m.

New York Yankees at Minnesota, 7:10 p.m.

Cincinnati at Houston, 7:10 p.m.

Detroit at Kansas City, 7:15 p.m.

Texas at St. Louis, 7:15 p.m.

Los Angeles Angels at Oakland, 8:35 p.m.

Milwaukee at Los Angeles Dodgers , 9:10 p.m.

Washington at San Diego, 9:40 p.m.

Saturday, June 18 Schedule (All Times Central)

New York Yankes at Minnesota, 1:10 p.m.

Arizona at Philadelphia, 2:05 p.m.

Toronto at Baltimore, 3:05 p.m.

Seattle at Boston, 3:05 p.m.

Los Angeles Angels at Oakland, 3:05 p.m.

Cincinnati at Houston, 3:10 p.m.

Colorado at Miami, 3:10 p.m.

San Francisco at Tampa Bay, 3:10 p.m.

Texas at St. Louis, 3:15 p.m.

Chicago White Sox at Cleveland, 5:10 p.m.

Detroit at Kansas City, 7:15 p.m.

Pittsburgh at Chicago Cubs, 7:15 p.m.

Atlanta at New York Mets, 7:15 p.m.

Milwaukee at Los Angeles Dodgers, 9:10 p.m.

Washington at San Diego, 9:10 p.m.

Sunday, June 19 Schedule (All Times Central)

Chicago White Sox at Cleveland, 12:10 p.m.

Atlanta at New York Mets, 12:10 p.m.

Colorado at Miami, 12:10 p.m.

San Francisco at Tampa Bay, 12:10 p.m.

Toronto at Baltimore, 12:35 p.m.

Seattle at Boston, 12:35 p.m.

Arizona at Philadelphia, 12:35 p.m.

New York Yankees at Minnesota, 1:10 p.m.

Cincinnati at Houston, 1:10 p.m.

Detroit at Kansas City, 1:15 p.m.

Texas at St. Louis, 1:15 p.m.

Los Angeles Angels at Oakland, 3:05 p.m.

Milwaukee at Los Angeles Dodgers, 3:10 p.m.

Washington at San Diego, 3:40 p.m.

Pittsburgh at Chicago Cubs, 7:00 p.m.