The Los Angeles Dodgers extended their winning streak to a season-best seven games on Saturday night, but it included a Freddie Freeman injury scare when he was hit by a pitch in the bottom of the seventh inning.
Freeman was struck in the right knee by a 91 mph cutter from Matt Koch. He limped while jogging down to first base but remained in the game after being checked on by Dodgers manager Dave Roberts and a trainer.
However, Freeman did not take aggressive secondary leads and was removed at the start of the eighth inning.
“It feels like I got hit by a ball. It hurt,” he said. “I had a little bit of a wobbly leg there for a second, but got some ice, got some compression and I feel alright.”
Freeman, who has started each of the Dodgers’ 116 games this season, said the thought of not playing in the series finale against the Rockies hadn’t entered his mind.
That was despite the Dodgers not taking X-rays or any other scan on Freeman’s knee.
“I declined,” he said.
When asked if players have the authority to make such a decision in overruling a medical staff, Freeman laughed and answered, “I did.”
Although the Dodgers have withstood a rash of injuries throughout the season, losing Freeman would have amounted to arguably their biggest loss.
The 33-year-old is in the midst of an MVP-caliber season and helps anchor not only the Dodgers lineup but their defense as well.
Dodgers accept Freddie Freeman declining X-rays
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts echoed Freeman’s expectation of the All-Star being in the lineup on Sunday. Roberts also didn’t have any qualms with Freeman forgoing X-rays on his right knee.
“I think if anyone deserves that or has earned that, it’s Freddie,” he said.
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