MIAMI — Braves quotes from Freddie Freeman, Michael Bourn, Ryan Weber and Fredi Gonzalez after Friday’s 12-11 loss to the Marlins.
**FREDDIE FREEMAN
Strange game, losing despite getting four runs in 1st inning against Jose Fernandez
“That’s not how you expect to start in a game like that. But he came out and threw some pitches over the plate and we were able to put the barrel on the ball. Nick got it started with the big leadoff homer and Daniel followed it up, and we were able to get some runs in the first inning. That doesn’t usually happen against him, but it was definitely an interesting game tonight.”
On Fernandez settling down after the four runs right away
“That doesn’t happen very often; I think he just left some pitches out over and we were able to get it in fair play and away from the infielders and outfielders. Sometimes he makes mistakes and we hit them right at people. This time we were able to get them in holes. But it doesn’t take a lot for him to get settled in. He’s one of the best pitchers in the game, and he definitely did that after the first inning.”
Take some positives from this?
“There’s no negatives in this game. When you get down 11-4 and come all the way back, come within a run. We never quit. We even had an opportunity to win this game. It was definitely an interesting and fun game to play for the hitters in this game. But there’s no negatives in this game. It was a battle and we kept going all the way to the ninth.”
On hitting second homer in two games despite the painful right wrist
“I got a pitch out over (the plate) and luckily was able to get through the zone and get the ball on the barrel. It’s still painful, but I try and not think about it and go out there and play. Even if I do get out right there, it’s not the wrist’s fault, it’s my fault. I’m going out there and giving my best effort. I’ll be out there again tomorrow.”
**MICHAEL BOURN
Was that one of the stranger games you’ve experienced in the National League?
“Yeah, it was. We were down by a lot and we just kept pecking away and hitting. Next thing you know we found ourselves right back in the ballgame. But came up just a little bit short.”
Take some positives from this game?
“Yea, but close only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades. I mean, happy that we had some success against their pitching, but you want to win the ballgame, when it comes down to it. But they hit the ball well, as well. We were able to get out front against Jose. He’s an ace, throwing 95 to 98 (miles per hour), nasty change, nasty curve. We had some great at-bats against him, man. A.J. put on a real great at-bat against him (in the first inning). I think that helped us out. But they came right back and answered, so….
“They took the lead even more after that, but we kept coming back and fighting, getting big hits. We just came up a little bit short.”
On Freeman playing despite being hurt, what message does that send to rest of team?
“Well, if your three-hole hitter and first baseman is going out there every day and wanting to play, and we know we’re going home at the end of the year, that should send a message right there. He shouldn’t have to say anything else. That speaks for itself. Everybody in here knows he’s injured, and he’s still going out there and battling. We really have nothing to play for but pride. We’re not going to the playoffs. And that says a lot about him.”
**FREDI GONZALEZ
On scoring four runs in 1st against Fernandez, but falling short in end
“We battled. We swung the bats. When you score four in the first inning off Fernandez – because he usually doesn’t give up four in two stats – but we were talking about it earlier, when your starters don’t go deep into ballgames…. If you pitch, you have a chance to win the ballgame. And our starter didn’t, we didn’t get deep in the ballgame, and we couldn’t stop the bleeding after we score four. But again, I think our guys showed some extrame want-to and battled. Guys we put in there did some nice things.”
On rookie starter Ryan Weber struggling mightily tonight
“Everything was up. There’s no crispness, no sharp (pitches), it was just one of those days for him.”
On Freeman producing despite wrist injury, and Garcia getting another big hit with runners in scoring position after struggling in that department for much of the season
“He (Garcia) gives you good at-bats, so you’re not afraid to run him in there against anybody – right-handers, left-handers. I think the other night in New York he hit Clippard, and against lefties he does a nice job. Yeah, he’s done a good job. Freeman is struggling with that (wrist), every once in a while you see him swing and kind of wince a little bit. But we’ll keep monitoring him. I was almost ready to pull the plug on him and take him out of the game when we were down eight or nine runs. He comes up and hits a big two-run homer and gets us back in the game, and shoot, we had bases loaded there in the eighth inning with a chance to win the game.”
What are you thinking in first, Markakis line-drive leadoff homer off Fernandez, then three more runs in the inning
“I’m thinking if we get a decent performance – I’m not talking about going seven or eight innings with Weber, but if he gives you five innings, or 5 2/3, and you get to the bullpen guys that you want to throw in there, we’ve got a good chance to win this game. They came back out swinging the bats. It was just a tough day for Web there.”
On A.J. getting nicked behind the plate
“He got hit pretty good, it wasn’t a nick. He got smoked pretty good, right there on the shoulder, right on the bone. We’re going to evaluate him. He wasn’t going to play anyway tomorrow because of the lefty. Hopefully we get him in there on Sunday.”
**RYAN WEBER
On having a long time to watch game after blowing early 4-0 lead and leaving in third inning
“Yeah, it definitely wasn’t one of my better games. I didn’t have anything, really. But heck of a job by our guys to come back and battle. I mean, we had a good chance to win the ballgame. I thought we were going to do it after Swish walked. But I mean, it was a great job by the offense.”
Fredi said everything was up in the zone for you
“Yeah, I was working more east-west, I didn’t really have anything downhill, there was no real sink. I threw a couple of good pitches, I thought, in the first inning, to get out of it. But after that everything was up. My changeup was up, the home run. And I don’t think I threw a strike with my curveball.”
Does it make it worse knowing you had a 4-0 lead before throwing a pitch, and blew it?
“Yeah, because I looked up, I knew I hadn’t got a win yet, and I was thinking, oh, this is it. Perfect opportunity, we go up 4-zip in the first. And then they get runners on and it’s like, well, I’ve got to bear down now to hopefully – hopefully – get a win. But it didn’t fall my way.”
