LA (Associated Press) – Blue balloon pillars standing eight feet tall were placed on either side of Freddie Freeman’s locker. The Dodgers’ kitchen crew had given the slugger with a sweet tooth a large package of cookies and a birthday cake, which were nearby.

With a smile, the seven-time All-Star declared, “I’m a big snickerdoodle guy.

On his 34th birthday, Freeman received a lot of love at Dodger Stadium, from the clubhouse gifts to the fans’ singing and dances. He responded by turning in a productive performance for another victory.

With an 11-2 victory over the San Diego Padres on Tuesday night, Freeman hit four hits, doubled, and homered, Will Smith added a three-run homer, and Los Angeles reduced the gap between it and five games remaining to capture the National League West.

A season-high four runs were scored by Freeman while wearing his white No. 5 shirt in front of thousands of spectators at Dodger Stadium on his jersey giveaway night, which also featured 30 friends and family members. The crowd sang “Happy Birthday to You” during the second inning, and during the late innings, people stood up to perform The Freddie, the players’ celebratory dance that has become popular with LA fans and even served as the basis for a song.

This year, “we’ve been having fun as a group, and I think the fans noticed, and they’ve been taking to it,” added Freeman. Just having fun. A pleasant birthday it was.

In the first, Freeman singled and scored; in the third, he hit a two-run home run; in the fourth, he singled and scored once again; and in the eighth, he earned his franchise’s record-setting 55th double, capping off his sixth game with four hits this year.

In the 14 major league games that Freeman has played on his birthday, he has already hit four home runs, collected 12 RBIs, and scored 12 runs.

There is nothing that man cannot accomplish, and what better birthday present could there be? Roberts, the Dodgers manager, said.

When the Dodgers most needed him, Lynn (11-11) threw seven solid innings of five-hit ball. The 36-year-old LA newcomer bounced back from back-to-back bad starts and tossed 111 mostly good pitches while Los Angeles’ bullpen was overworked despite giving up his major league-leading 41st home run.

For the Padres, who have dropped four straight games, Fernando Tats Jr. homered.

After being 6-0 in his previous eight starts, Michael Wacha (11-4) suffered his second straight defeat for San Diego. He only managed to complete four innings while giving up seven runs on seven hits and three walks.

Manager Bob Melvin remarked of Wacha, “The line that he put together tonight, we’re not used to seeing that.” “It occurs. The season is winding down, and he’s made plenty of starts.

In the third, Freeman hit his 26th home run by driving a first-pitch sinker from Wacha to center.

Trent Grisham’s bases-loaded bunt allowed San Diego to score in the fourth, but Lynn was able to get out of trouble.

In the fourth, Freeman collected his second single, and Smith drove him in with his 18th home run.

Tats blasted his 24th home run of the year with two outs in the fifth inning.

Chris Taylor, a pinch-hitter, and James Outman both scored runs for Los Angeles in the sixth.

In the eighth inning, J.D. Martinez scored Mookie Betts and Freeman. This season, Freeman has scored 121 runs, surpassing Betts’ previous high of 120.

NINE ARM

Kyle Hurt, a hard-throwing USC product and native of San Diego County, made an excellent debut in the major league for the Dodgers with two flawless innings of relief pitching. After retiring Tats, Juan Soto, and Manny Machado in order on nine pitches in the eighth, Hurt showed a 98 mph fastball in the ninth to retire the side.

Due to a late-night call-up, a lengthy travel, and LA traffic, Hurt arrived at Dodger Stadium 25 minutes after first pitch. To witness his 24-pitch masterpiece, his fiancée, parents, and a large group of friends traveled to Chavez Ravine.

Every bullpen member who spoke to Hurt throughout the game simply advised him to “be yourself, don’t change a thing.” “And I did just that…. I’ve been discussing this with my friends, as well as my family, for a very long time. Being a part of it is just so awesome.

READERS’ ROOM

Dodgers: Clayton Kershaw, who felt strong after a 30-pitch bullpen session, will start on Saturday at Seattle. His intended appearance was postponed by the Dodgers by several days due to a drop in velocity over his previous two starts. The LA reliever Daniel Hudson continued his recovery from an injured knee ligament by throwing 30 pitches off the slope of the mound.

NEXT UPIn the final game of the series, Blake Snell (13-9, 2.52 ERA) will face Ryan Pepiot (2-0, 0.86), who has been outstanding in both of the Dodgers’ two starts so far this year.