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.
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The cycle comes as this season’s first and the first for the Braves since Mark Kotsay did it in 2008 against the Chicago Cubs.
Freeman completed the cycle with a single in the 11th inning against the Cincinnati Reds.
Matt Wisler (3-7) ended a string of four straight losses, allowing two runs on eight hits and two walks in 6 2/3 innings.
Aybar drove in three runs on three hits for Atlanta. The 2016 season now has its first.
Yeah, it took him extras to accomplish the feat, with Freeman’s 11th-inning single to right center making it official. He advanced to second on a balk by Tony Cingrani, then went to third on an infield single by Adonis Garcia.
Freeman becomes the first player in baseball to hit for the cycle this season.
Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Matt Wisler works in the first inning of a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds, Thursday, June 16, 2016, in Atlanta.
Adonis Garcia came into Wednesday’s game against the Reds on a bit of a tear, having batted.421 with two home runs over his previous five games. Freeman got arguably the hardest part of the cycle out of the way in the fourth, when he tripled to deep right. Tyler Flowers then hit a game tying single to bring up Erick Aybar, who was intentionally walked to load the bases (again.not a typo). They won two straight at Turner Field against Miami on May 27-28.
DENVER – Nolan Arenado tied for the major league lead with his 20th homer as Colorado completed a two-game sweep and extended New York’s losing streak to four. “What I do know is that he feels great”, said manager Bryan Price before Hamilton took batting practice and caught fly balls. He has been outstanding in his first two June starts, beating Oakland on Saturday with one run allowed on five hits in seven innings, and getting a no-decision after limiting Washington to two runs on two hits in seven frames on June 4.
He scored in the third when Reds right-hander Anthony DeSclafani was hindered by first baseman Joey Votto’s off-target throw to the plate, which was recorded as an error.
The Braves called up right-hander Tyrell Jenkins from Triple-A Gwinnett. Reliever Casey Kelly blew the lead before recording an out in the sixth.
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Cincinnati Reds’ Jose Peraza steals third base in the sixth inning of a baseball game against th … Cincinnati starters have failed to pitch more than four innings three times in the past four games.2.
