There were four cycles during the 2015 MLB season. The 2016 season has its first.
Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman completed the feat with a leadoff single to center field in the bottom of the 11th inning against the Reds at Turner Field on Wednesday. It's rare for a single to complete the cycle.
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Freeman is the first Braves player to hit for the cycle since Mark Kotsay against the Cubs on Aug. 14, 2008. He's the seventh player in franchise history to hit for the cycle.
A banner day for @FreddieFreeman5 gives 2016 its first cycle. pic.twitter.com/pFu7yE1nMh
— MLB (@MLB) June 16, 2016
Freeman almost scored the winning run later in the frame. He advanced to second on a balk by Tony Cingrani, then went to third on an infield single by Adonis Garcia. After Nick Markakis walked to load the bases with nobody out, Jace Peterson grounded into a fielder's choice as Reds catcher Tucker Barnhart made a great play to beat Freeman to the plate. But a short pop fly to center and a grounder to shortstop sent the game to the 12th inning.
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Freeman struck out in the first inning, but then hit a double in the third and later scored to give the Braves a 2-0 lead. With the Braves up 4-0 the next inning, Freeman ripped a triple to right field, but was stranded at third.
After the Reds rallied to take a 6-5 lead, Freeman tied things in the bottom of the sixth with a solo shot to left field off Reds reliever Josh Smith.
Freeman struck out looking in the eighth inning, but then hit his leadoff single in the 11th. He almost had an infield hit in the 12th, but replay overturned first base umpire Jim Joyce's safe call at first base. (We could have used that reversal in 2010.)
UPDATE: The Braves won the game 9-8 in 13 innings, rallying for three runs in the bottom of the 13th.