Braves quotes after the 5-1 loss to the Rockies on Tuesday at Turner Field.
**FREDI GONZALEZ
On Mike Foltynewicz’s start
“I thought he pitched good and I told him that when he came out of the fifth inning. He’s a young pitcher that he’s not ready to cover up mistakes. We made some mistakes behind him, it lengthens the innings and he throws more pitches. If we go out there and we have a clean game defensively behind him he may be pitching the seventh. I thought his pitches were good, his secondary pitches were good. He’s not experienced enough to be able to cover those up. He almost did. We got bases loaded one out, he punched out a guy and then he gave up a run. But I thought I saw some good stuff from him. I saw him keep his composure, which is a big thing for a young player.”
On if he’s seen Foltynewicz improve on keeping his composure since spring training
“I have. That was the only episode we saw in spring training. From all of these guys we have, I think to this point he has made maybe the most progress.”
On drawing four walks in the seventh inning but not scoring
“We had some people on base even from the fifth inning. We had people on base with the right people hitting. They just wiggled out of those situations. We did have the right situations to get within one road or even go ahead but we didn’t get it done.”
On Nick Markakis hitting well
“It’s hard sometimes to even notice him because he’s been like that all year. Somebody says, ‘He had another great three at-bats,’ well he gives you great at-bats almost every night so he doesn’t get the credit he deserves. Here’s a guy we’ve hit him lead-off, second, third, fourth and all he does is give you good at-bat after good at-bat. I hope some of our young hitters that are in there watching him are taking note that this guy does not give at-bats away. He sticks his nose in there every single time.”
On Adonis Garcia’s three errors
“It’s just one of those tough nights. You haven’t been a major leaguer until you have one of those nights. I remember against the Rockies when I was a third-base coach here, (Mark) DeRosa at third base (with four errors), I don’t think that ever happened to him again. Remember him getting a message from a member of another team: ‘Congratulations you are now a major leaguer.’ It happens. The only people it doesn’t happen to is the people watching the game on television or watching the game in the stands or us here.”
**MIKE FOLTYNEWICZ
On pitching around the three errors
“Errors are going to happen. I’ve learned over the past couple years I can’t control anything after I let the ball go out of my hand. I’ve got to keep focused on the next pitch instead of dwelling over what happens. Errors are going to happen. Everybody wishes they were perfect but that’s baseball. I thought I did a good job a couple of times getting the next batter but a couple times it didn’t really work out. I tried to pick up Garcia but it didn’t happen. I will just go out there the next time and focus a little better and get the job done.”
On keeping his composure
“That’s another part of the game I’ve been working on. You can’t let those things get to your head because that’s when the big innings happen. The other day in Chicago I think I sped up a little bit. This time I kind of slowed down a little bit, damage control. I didn’t let four or five in, just a couple, for a chance to get my team back in the game. I’m getting a little better, baby steps, but it’s coming along well.”
On if he’s improved
“It’s baby steps, like I said. Once we get there, I’m trying to finish off the last month on a positive note going into next year. Little things are going to make all the difference in the next month. Hopefully I will get them down. I’m getting my confidence back. It’s going to be a fun last month.”
**NICK SWISHER
On leaving runners on base late
“Some things didn’t go our way tonight. There’s a lot of new faces, including myself. I think we are really working together and trying to figure out what the identity of what this team is going to be. We’ve got a lot of season left to be played. There’s no giving up in this squad and that’s what I like about it the most. We are going to keep grinding, keep playing. We have got some opportunities, we just haven’t capitalized on them. I think if we just stick together and keep fighting and scratching and clawing, it will turn for us.”
On Garcia’s three errors
“We’ve got his back. You are going to make mistakes. This is a tough game sometimes. Sometimes that ball bounces a little funky. Hopefully he gets that opportunity tomorrow and make some kind of amazing play, because that’s the kind of guy he is.”
On Foltynewicz keeping his composure
“That’s what’s great, man. We’ve got such a young pitching staff, such a young, talented pitching staff. This is the first time I’ve really gotten a glimpse of all of them. These guys have electric stuff and they are learning on the fly. They are learning at the highest level possible. They have the talent to be here but they are going through a little bit of growing pains right now and they’ll figure it out and come out on the other side for sure.”
