ATLANTA – Freddie Freeman said before the game the slumping Braves needed an immediate turnaround.
The power-hitting first baseman then backed up his challenge at the plate.
Freeman hit a three-run homer, one of four by Atlanta, and the Braves beat the Oakland Athletics 7-2 on Friday night in the opening game of the interleague series.
Justin Upton and Evan Gattis hit homers off Jason Hammel (1-5) in the second inning. Rookie Phil Gosselin hit a two-run homer, the first of his career, off Jesse Chavez in the sixth.
The Braves had not scored more than four runs in any of their past six games. They entered the game having lost 12 of 15.