Braves quotes after 6-5 loss to Marlins

—Quotes compiled by Michael Cunningham and Erica A. Hernandez

**FREDI GONZALEZ**

On pinch runner Jordan Schafer attempting to steal second base in 9th

“Well you know what, you felt good. That’s what he does best and we felt that with (Steve) Cishek on the mound, which I think there’s been five out of six stolen bases against him, you don’t want to give up an out and you’ve got Schafer sitting on the bench, you felt like you had a good chance stealing the base there. (Jeff) Mathis made a nice throw. It wasn’t in the air, it was a one-hopper but that was almost better, really. And we didn’t steal it.”

On how his team fought back in the ninth and the eighth innings

“I liked the way our bullpen gave us an opportunity. We go out and give up six runs and we got to cover, what four and two thirds? And they did it and kind of just hung around and hung around and made a big comeback there in the eighth inning where everybody thought it was over, and made it a one-run game. You got to tip your hat to our bullpen. Offensively, in the eighth inning, we did a nice job keeping the line moving. It’s one of those games that you look here or there and early on in the game and you wish you had picked up a run but I’m glad and I’m really pleased at how our team fought back a couple of different times after being down and scratching a run, so I’m happy for that.”

What do you make of Mike Minor’s performance tonight and recently?

“Well, you know what, I’m a little concerned about the outings. I thought he we put him behind the eight ball in the first inning. He kind of gave up a couple of hits, infield single, couple of hits, but I was really really pleased with just giving up one run with the bases loaded and nobody out. You know, minimize the damage. He goes out the next inning and gives up three ground balls too, I think to (Andrelton) Simmons—he got all three ground balls. And you’re thinking ‘OK, he’s got the thing going again’ and he just didn’t get it going. I’m a little concerned because we’ve seen so much better than that. We’ve seen a couple of good outings and then one like tonight and then a couple of good outings. So we’ll keep working, we’ll keep trying to figure it out because he’s a big piece of our rotation right now.”

How has Minor’s velocity been?

“Fastball velocity has been fine, I think he throws 90, 91 and I don’t think it’s that. I think maybe it’s the command of the fastball and secondary pitches, not commanding them like he has been. When he’s good he really commands them and they’re down in the strike zone. We’ll keep evaluating it. Look at film, working with him and try to get him straightened out.”

On Minor’s six runs allowed

“It looked like….there were some balls over the plate they had some pretty good hacks at and maybe that’s just part of balls hit too much over the fat part of the plate. I thought after that first inning we were going to get it going because that’s one of the hardest things to do is give up one run on a bases loaded nobody out situation and he did, he got out of it. And then we go out and we scored a run, kind of manufactured a run there and tied the game up. So you thought he had it going there for a little bit but it just didn’t quite work out that way.”

Is this something you think can be improved with film and bullpen sessions?

“I think so. I hope so. We’ve seen it from him, it’s like hitters or like anything else it may be just a simple fix, so hopefully we’ll find it.”

Did Evan Gattis look OK physically to you at the plate tonight?

“Yeah, I think Gattis is a guy that hasn’t seen major league pitching in 17 days, so that’s what it looks like to me. It’s hard to get cranked back up after missing that much time. Even though he had 12-13 at-bats at Triple-A, it’s a little different pitching up here.”

**MIKE MINOR**

On if his fastballs were too much over the plate and the command is off on other pitches

“Yeah, for sure, I’d say it was off a lot tonight. I couldn’t throw anything really on the corners tonight. Everything was right over the middle of the plate. When they missed it, they still fell in (for hits).”

On if this outing felt different than last one

“I felt way rustier tonight. That’s not an excuse, either. Physically I felt good and my bullpen (session) was pretty good. Then I got out there and I wasn’t throwing to the corners.”

On if he had too much rest with the All-Star break

“Too much rest? No. I told (Evan) Gattis before the game hopefully I don’t overthrow tonight because I felt really good with all the days off. It was one of those games where I felt like I was trying to aim the ball a little bit because early on they got a run. I was trying to hold them off and I was aiming the ball, got a couple walks and a couple balls fell in.”

On if he feels like things can be different in his next start

“Yeah, I feel like that. I’ve been saying that all year, though. Every time I go out there I feel I’m going to have a good game. I feel physically strong and mentally I’m good and then it so happens I have a bad game. The bullpen has been picking me up all season long. They did a hell of a job tonight and we almost squeezed out a win.”

On if this is as frustrated as he’s been after a start this year

“Yeah, just because I had a good mindset coming in after the break. It’s one of those things where you come in and you feel like, hey, it’s clean slate and try to have a better second half. Then I come out and give up 10 hits. We score five runs, we should have won the game.”

On if there is anything he can do differently to prepare for his next start

“We looked at film (and) I’m pretty much the same pitcher as last year. Maybe just not executing pitches and really going after that and nibbling or aiming the ball. Last year I threw a ton of (fastballs) 90, 91 mph and just went after guys. I wasn’t as tentative towards contact and this year it seems like I am pitching to contact. Last year I just went after guys.”

On if he feels OK after starting spring training late because of a sore shoulder

“I feel good. I don’t want that to be an excuse. This year has just been a rough season so far.”

**JASON HEYWARD**

On Marlins starter Jacob Turner not looking like a guy just promoted from the bullpen

“No. He threw well tonight. The All-Star break did him some good. I feel like all of their pitchers in the first two games so far have thrown pretty well. It’s not often that we have had too many opportunities but we’ve got to take advantage of the ones we’ve got.”

On rallying late in the game

“You never want to lay down. You know you always have a chance with the last AB at home, especially. It’s tough to play catch-up. That’s the thing with Turner, he was able to get in the groove a little bit. He had some wiggle room. That’s what you are supposed to do is be aggressive, be in the zone and make guys put the ball in play. We just came up one short.”

On if Mike Minor can regain his form