SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Freddie Freeman’s father has long been the one in his ear with an encouraging word and some advice to simplify his swing.

Even now, in his mid-30s, he still hears it from dad: Return to the tee.

Frederick Freeman Sr. instructs his son to get back to his hitting basics when times are tough. So, on a September Saturday in San Francisco, the Dodgers slugger did just that. He grabbed his bat and headed for the indoor cage to take some cuts off a tee.

It served as a reset of sorts for the Los Angeles first baseman, a chance to adjust his swing ever so slightly.

Freeman wound up with three hits in a 13-7 win over the Giants that night of Sept. 13 before getting three more the next day in a 10-2 triumph.

He took all of 45 warmup swings that first day behind the scenes —

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