Freeman ready for Classic
TAMPA, Fla. — Freddie Freeman was born and raised in Southern California. He blossomed into an MLB star with the Atlanta Braves.
Starting this week, he’s proudly playing in the World Baseball Classic. For Canada — and for a special reason.
The veteran first baseman is honoring his mother Rosemary, who died of skin cancer when he was 10.
“Every day here, it’s about my mom because I’m doing this for her,” the two-time All-Star said this week. “My mom never became a U.S. citizen — she was Canadian through and through. It’s pretty special.
“I know she’s watching, I know she has a front-row seat. I want to make her proud. I think there’s going to be nerves, there’s going to be anxiety about it, just wanting the game to start.”
Freeman and Canada open the WBC tonight against the Dominican Republic, which won the quadrennial event in 2013.
The 27-year-old Freeman made his debut with Canada on Tuesday in an exhibition game against the Toronto Blue Jays that Canada won 7-1. He looked skyward following the playing of the Canadian national anthem.
“Hearing the anthem had a little extra meaning to me,” Freeman said.
Freeman can play for
Canada because of a WBC rule that allows a player to compete for a country if at least one parent was born in that country. Freeman’s father, Fred, who also was born in Canada, plans to attend tonight’s game.
“It’s going to be a special day — not only for me, but it’s something to be able to share with my dad,” Freeman said.
Freeman had a gleam in his eyes when he talked about his mother, how they’d play catch and she would glove the ball with her left hand, then take off the mitt and throw the ball back left-handed.
“I like telling these stories because telling the memories I have of her, that makes her live on,” Freeman said. “It’s nice just to be able to talk about her.”
Freeman had the day off Wednesday as Canada lost its second and final tuneup game 10-4 to the New York Yankees.
Braves top Phillies
Micah Johnson went 2-for-3 with a triple that drove in the winning run as the Braves beat Philadelphia 3-2 in a Grapefruit League matchup Wednesday in Kissimmee, Fla.
Brandon Phillips and Nick Markakis also went 2-for-3, Markakis with a two-run double that put Atlanta ahead in the third inning. The Phillies tied the game on center fielder Roman Quinn’s single that scored Cam Perkins in the top half of the seventh before Johnson’s big hit.
Atlanta starter Bartolo Colon allowed one run, two walks and one hit with three strikeouts in three innings. Paco Rodriguez (1-0) allowed one run and two hits in his inning of relief, and Ian Krol pitched a perfect ninth for the save.