by Cary Osborne
Freddie Freeman has hit 21 of them to the pull side. Fifteen have gone to straightaway center field. Another 17 have been hit to the opposite field.
He hustled for the 17th and 30th and saw an outfielder take too much time and stole his 25th.
The 53rd was hard hit and rolled through the infield dirt on Friday in Washington D.C. Freeman sprinted out of the box, seeing that the ball was going to have enough space between outfielders for him to try for two.
He reached second base in 8.22 seconds — his second-fastest home-to-second time of the season.
Los Angeles Dodgers on Twitter: “Doubles King, Freddie Freeman. pic.twitter.com/mJrtQB4Bhj / Twitter”
Doubles King, Freddie Freeman. pic.twitter.com/mJrtQB4Bhj
Freeman has often talked about intent and desire in the context of playing every day. The 53 doubles he has hit this season — a new Dodger franchise record — has a lot to do with both as well.
“Honestly, when I hit that one I saw (the outfielder) not coming in. That was my initial thought is I’m going to push the envelope here,” Freeman said. “So if he had charged it I probably would have stayed, but I kind of read that he went to the side. I guess (it’s being) wise.”
Said manager Dave Roberts of the double: “That kind of exemplifies how he plays the game.”
Freeman’s achievement was part of a big offensive night in the Dodgers’ 8–5 comeback win against the Nationals.
Freeman broke a record that stood for 94 years. Rookie Johnny Frederick hit 52 doubles for the 1929 Brooklyn Robins in 148 games.
Freeman’s 53 doubles are tied for 33rd-most in a single season by a Major Leaguer. They are tied for 14th-most by a player this century and 14th-most in National League history.
Freeman went 3-for-4 and was intentionally walked in the game. It’s the 19th time this season the 33-year-old has had at least three hits in a game this season — one behind Atlanta’s Ronald Acuña Jr.
The Offense
Chris Taylor, shifting to the leadoff spot with Mookie Betts day-to-day after fouling a ball off his left foot on Thursday, doubled in a pair of runs to give the Dodgers a 6–5 lead in the sixth. He reached base three times in the game.
The Dodgers trailed 5–4 after Washington’s C.J. Abrams hit a two-run homer off Dodger starter Emmet Sheehan. Taylor’s double was part of a four-run Dodger sixth.
Taylor is batting .333/.449/.579/1.028 over his last 20 games.
J.D. Martinez — in his return from the injured list — Max Muncy and Kiké Hernández each homered.
Los Angeles Dodgers on Twitter: “Welcome back, Just Dingers! pic.twitter.com/rLVleIwPd5 / Twitter”
Welcome back, Just Dingers! pic.twitter.com/rLVleIwPd5
Martinez, who was activated from the injured list on Friday after missing 17 games due to groin tightness, hit a two-run home run in the first inning. It was his 26th homer of the year and first since July 25.
Muncy tied the score 3–3 in the fourth inning with his 33rd homer of the year.
Dodger Insider on Twitter: “Max Muncy takes sole possession of 10th place in franchise history with 172 home runs. He ranks sixth in the LA Dodgers history. / Twitter”
Max Muncy takes sole possession of 10th place in franchise history with 172 home runs. He ranks sixth in the LA Dodgers history.
Injury Updates
Walker Buehler will not return to the Major Leagues this season, it was announced on Friday. The All-Star right-handed pitcher, making his way back after a second Tommy John surgery, retired all six batters he faced in a rehab assignment on Sunday for Triple-A Oklahoma City.
Buehler and Dodger front office and training staff, all came to the decision to refocus on a 2024 return.
Joe Kelly, on the injured list since Aug. 10 due to right forearm inflammation, pitched a scoreless inning, allowing one hit for Single-A Oklahoma City on Friday in a rehab assignment. Kelly threw nine pitches.
Betts received an X-ray on his foot on Thursday and it was negative. He received a CT scan on Friday, which was also negative. Manager Dave Roberts said Betts has a bone bruise and will not play this weekend.
Roberts said Betts felt better on Friday and was moving better.
Where They Stand
The Dodgers (86–54) have cut their magic number to clinch the National League West to nine. They lead Arizona by 13 games in the West. The Dodgers play the Nationals (63–77) in the second game of the three-game series at 1:05 PDT on Saturday.
New doubles king Freeman and Dodger offense move LA closer to NL West crown was originally published in Dodger Insider on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.