ATLANTA – Freddie Freeman hit a two-run homer to lead off the bottom of the 11th inning as the Atlanta Braves beat the Boston Red Sox 8-7 on Friday night to clinch the No. 2 seed in the National League playoffs.
Freeman’s homer off Jeffrey Springs (0-2) drove in Ender Inciarte, who started the half-inning on second base per current Major League Baseball tiebreaker rules. The drive also bolstered the veteran Braves slugger’s case for NL MVP.
“He absolutely should,” Braves manager Brian Snitker said about the 31-year-old first baseman winning the award. “The guy is having an unbelievable year. … He checks all the boxes.”
Snitker said Atlanta’s Marcell Ozuna, who had three hits and drove in two runs, also deserves consideration.
Freeman was given a rare day off from starting before walking as a pinch-hitter in the ninth. He said he was looking for a fastball from Springs in the 11th and was ready when it came. After a rain-delayed game Thursday against the Miami Marlins, who won 4-2, Freeman prevented the Braves from playing deep into another night.