Two more WBC homers for Freiman
"I caught some heat," Ausmus told on-site MLB.com reporter Adam Berry, "but he's making me look good."
After homering twice on Wednesday, Freiman went deep twice more as Israel topped Spain, 4-2, on Friday, Day 3 of WBC action in Jupiter, Fla.
"If Nate keeps hitting, there'll be no stopping him," Ausmus added. "The organization's definitely watching. I received a text after the first game from Josh Byrnes, the general manager, who said, 'Tell Freiman to keep raking.' I'm guessing I'll get a similar text tonight."
Freiman's two-run blast toward left field in the sixth gave Israel its first lead, and his two-run shot toward center in the eighth offered some insurance. The 25-year-old right-handed hitter is now 4-for-9 with six RBIs through two international games. He had just one multi-homer game this past season in the Minors, but that doesn't tell the story of his 24-homer, 105-RBI campaign at Double-A San Antonio.
"Baseball's just a game where you have enough at-bats over enough time, good things will happen and bad things will happen," Freiman, an eighth-round draftee in 2009, told MLB.com. "It's good to see the ball. It was nice to get a couple runs for the team today.
"I spent the full season in Double-A [in 2012]. My goal is to come into Spring Training in good shape, strong, healthy as I can, do the best I can in Spring Training and let the organization decide. They've been great to me. I've played every day since the day I signed. I've never had to split playing time. I can't ask any more out of the Padres. We'll see what happens in the spring."
Dodgers fourth-ranked prospect Joc Pederson also helped the cause, singling twice and scoring once.
Israel starter Justin Schumer, a San Francisco Giants prospect, gave up an unearned run on six hits over 5 2/3 frames. Schumer (1-0) recorded 10 of his 17 outs on the ground.
Spain starter Richard Salazar also pitched well, yielding two runs -- both on Freiman's sixth-inning shot -- on four hits over six innings.
"'Schu' pitched awesome. It was nice that we could get him a lead," Freiman said. "Our work's not done. We don't have the luxury of being able to absorb a loss on Sunday. So it was great, we're happy right now, but our work's not done here. Our sights are set on Sunday."
In other WBC qualifying action:
Germany 16, Czech Republic 1
Germany scored 13 of its runs in the fifth and sixth innings, after which the game was called due to mercy rule on Day 2 of the Regensburg, Germany, qualifier. Eleven different players collected an RBI for the victorious team, including third baseman Matt Weaver, whose grand slam capped an eight-run fifth.
Germany also pitched well: Starter Mike Bolsenbroek (1-0) allowed only an unearned run on five hits over 5 1/3 frames. Czech counterpart Michael Sobotka (0-1) was the first of three hurlers to yield four or more Germany runs. The two teams next play separate games Saturday. Gameday box score »