FREDI GONZALEZ
On not as lopsided but if every bit as frustrating as first two losses:
“I really like the way we battled there. We had some really, really good at-bats there in the eighth inning. Chris Johnson had a terrific at-bat there. We steal a base, put Schafer in there, he gets in scoring position, Simmons has another great at-bat to get himself to first base and load the bases up and they get out of it. They made a nice couple plays, on Danny’s sinking line drive. Yelich made a nice play on that ball. And the way they scored a run in the bottom of that seventh inning, they got a couple balls to drop. Then we got some groundballs that got through the infield off of Carpenter. We had some opportunities. I liked the way these guys battled in the eighth inning and now we go out there tomorrow and stop this losing streak.”
On way seventh inning unfolded:
“When (they’re) going good those things fall in, and when you’re not going good those things get through. Anyway I like the way we battled there in that one inning and got some good at-bats, Chris Johnson, and Simmons off Cishek, and just didn’t get anything to fall.”
On getting what he wanted out of Santana:
“We did. He did a nice job. I think the hardest ball they hit off of Thomas was the line drive to right field (for an out). Everything else – Reed Johnson bloop single, Yelich another bloop on the ball to left field and Stanton hits a groundball that could have been a double play but we had him shifted over, which during the course of the first couple games of the series, he hit it right to Danny a couple times. When you’re going to lose ball games, you’re going to lose them that way.”
On if could tell way Heyward reacted, he was safe at first:
“No I couldn’t tell. But I knew that Jason reacted, TP reacted and it was legs and elbows and gloves and helmets, going there at first base. I think Jim Reynolds…that’s what the replay is there for. And we got it right at the end. I couldn’t tell that he didn’t tag him because the ball was in his right hand, when you go fast speed. But then you slow it down, you actually see what happened. We got that play right and shortly thereafter B.J. hits a three-run homer and gets us the lead.”
CHRIS JOHNSON
On the series:
“They kicked our butts the first couple nights, they came up with timely hitting tonight and grinding one out. We’ll just have to regroup and go home and just kind of get back in it.”
On getting at-bats you wanted to load the bases, but not getting the big hit:
“Cishek is pretty tough. We got some tough at-bats. Those are hard at-bats with a guy on third base and both of the bases open. The pitcher can try and make that perfect pitch, if not they just put you on. Simmons had a great at-bat. Cishek is tough. We’ll be all right.”
On going 3-for-3 with walk:
“I felt good. I was able to stay back on a changeup and go the other way, so that’s definitely a good sign for me. I was trying to let the ball get a little deeper tonight and it was good.”
On contract extension:
“I don’t know what’s going on yet. I should know more a little bit later, maybe tomorrow.”
ERVIN SANTANA
On limiting damage against a hot lineup:
“I was able to keep the ball down for the most part. I was trying to give my team a chance to win.”
On if saw anything first two games he wanted to adjust to:
“To me, every team hits different to different pitchers so I just pitched with what I had that night and if everything is working I throw any pitch in any count.”
On if felt he had better command than vs. Cincinnati:
“Yeah in the first inning, that was not me right there. But after that, the third on, everything was better. I had a better feel for my offspeed and my fastball.”
On helping himself at the plate:
“I got the first hit of the inning and it scores, so that’s good, that feels good.”
On if team just needs to put series behind it:
“We have to. We have to erase everything so we just have to come tomorrow, play a new game, with a fresh mentality and just be positive and go win. That’s it. This will happen. We just have to prepare and just play hard.”
IAN THOMAS
On giving up two soft singles:
“It’s part of the game. They’re going to get their hits. We’re going to get ours. We came up on the short end of the stick, but we get to play tomorrow. That’s the best part about it.”
On feeling good at least, with Fredi putting him in those big situations:
“That’s what I’m here for. When they call, I’m going to pick up the phone, do what I have to do. Doesn’t matter when, doesn’t matter how. Just got to do my job.”
On if putting ball where he wanted but didn’t get result:
“Yeah, like I said they’re going to get their hits. We’re going to get ours. Just got to stay ahead, that’s the main thing. I fell behind a couple guys and come to a 3-2 count they’re in swing mode, and they’re going to put the ball in play. That’s what they get paid for.”
MARLINS MANAGER MIKE REDMOND (compliments of Sun-Sentinel reporter Juan Rodriguez)
On comments from Braves side about suspicions of sign-stealing after first two games:
“Just give us a little credit. I hadn’t heard anything, but yeah, we’re out there playing the game the right way and guys are battling and competing. That’s how we’re winning ballgames….My focus is on our guys and my team and what we’re doing. We just played a great three-game series and I’m not going to let anything diminish that.”
