Freeman reaches 3 times, scores in Dodgers debut, beats Rox
Freddie Freeman reached base three times and scored a run in his Dodgers debut, helping Walker Buehler and Los Angeles beat the Colorado Rockies 5-3 in a season opener.
By News Channel NebraskaDENVER (AP) — Freddie Freeman reached base three times and scored a run in his Dodgers debut, helping Walker Buehler and Los Angeles beat the Colorado Rockies 5-3 in a season opener.
Freeman struck out in his first at-bat. He was then hit by a pitch, walked and lined a sharp single before taking a called third strike in the eighth. The first baseman and 2020 NL MVP signed a six-year, $162 million deal with Los Angeles after leading the Atlanta Braves to a World Series championship last season.
Colorado’s big offseason acquisition, Kris Bryant, had a double and a walk but struck out against Craig Kimbrel with a runner on to end the game. Bryant agreed to a seven-year, $182 million to be a big bat in the top of the order.
Rockies bring back Todd Helton as special assistant to GM
DENVER (AP) — The Colorado Rockies are bringing back retired first baseman Todd Helton to serve as a special assistant to general manager Bill Schmidt.
Helton’s new role includes pitching in with some draft preparation and scouting but mostly focusing on assisting at the minor-league level.
Helton spent 17 seasons with the organization that selected him out of the University of Tennessee with the No. 8 pick in the 1995 draft. He's the franchise leader in games played, runs, hits, doubles, homers and RBIs to name a few.
Helton had his No. 17 retired by the team on Aug. 17, 2014.
Freeman offers grieving Iglesias a shoulder to lean on
DENVER (AP) — Freddie Freeman’s biggest play at first base in the season opener may have been offering a supportive shoulder.
The new Los Angeles Dodgers first baseman knew all too well the feelings Colorado’s José Iglesias was experiencing after Iglesias recently lost his father.
After reaching on a run-scoring single Friday, Iglesias pointed to the sky as he was overcome by emotion. Iglesias opened up to Freeman about how he had lost his dad, who had seen pretty much every big league hit until this one.
It was an instant bond. Freeman lost his mom to skin cancer when he was 10.