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Freeman homers as Braves edge past Mets
Braves crop
Atlanta Braves' Freddie Freeman, right, is high-fived by teammate Jace Peterson, left, after hitting a two-run home run in the fifth inning of Tuesday's game in Kissimmee, Fla. - photo by Associated Press

 KISSIMMEE, Fla. — Freddie Freeman hit his second home run of spring training, helping the Atlanta Braves beat the New York Mets 3-2 Tuesday.
    Freeman connected for a three-run drive in the third inning off Bartolo Colon. He is hitting .454 in five games and has driven in six runs.
    "He's really swinging it good, and it's nice to see," Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez said. "You wish you knew when to stop playing him, so he'd carry that into the season."
    Freeman who has 13 homers and a .313 career average against the Mets in the regular season,
    "Freddie kills us," Mets manager Terry Collins said. "Nothing new. You didn't see a lot of damage other than Freddie Freeman, and that's what he does to us."
    Closer Craig Kimbrel made his spring training debut for the Braves with a scoreless seventh. He allowed an infield single to Cesar Puello, then picked him off, and walked Daniel Muno.
    "It was good to get out there," Kimbrel said. "Everything was coming out easy. That's what you always want the first game of the spring."
    Getting Puello leaning made Kimbrel's outing a little easier.
    "I don't think I've had a pickoff in three or four years," Kimbrel said.
    Braves starter Julio Teheran allowed an unearned run in three innings, struck out four and walked two. The only hit off him was an RBI single by John Mayberry Jr., who finished 2-for-4 as he battles' for the Mets' left-field job.
    Atlanta Braves left-hander Mike Minor will start the season on the disabled list because of inflammation in his pitching shoulder's rotator cuff.
    Minor had an injection in his shoulder — he said he didn't know exactly what was injected — and won't throw for two weeks.
    "It's just frustrating more than anything," Minor said Tuesday.
    Minor was bothered by shoulder soreness last spring and didn't make his first big league start until May 2. He finished 6-12 with a 4.77 ERA in 25 starts.
    Minor developed tightness after throwing batting practice last week, and the Braves scratched him from what was to be his first exhibition start, Sunday against Houston. An MRI showed inflammation, and Minor was examined Monday by Dr. James Andrews in Gulf Breeze, Florida.
    "They say there is nothing wrong structurally," Minor said. "Hopefully, the stretching and shoulder exercises will knock it out. ... There is no tearing or frays. It is just weak, and that is causing it to pinch."
    Braves president of baseball operations John Hart called the diagnosis "about as good of news as we could have had."
    Atlanta already had an open spot in its rotation behind Julio Teheran, Alex Wood and Shelby Miller. Competing for the openings are Wandy Rodriguez, Eric Stultz, Mike Foltynewicz, Manny Banuelos and Cody Martin.
    "I'm glad we have depth," Hart said.
    Minor pitched 145 innings last season despite missing April and needing several injections during the season.
    "I don't think this is like what Mike went through last year," Hart said. "It's an entirely different situation."