NEW YORK — Braves quotes from Shelby Miller, Nick Swisher, Dan Winkler and Fredi Gonzalez after Monday’s 4-0 loss to the Mets.
**SHELBY MILLER
On getting into a groove after the rough first couple of innings
“Yeah, I felt like I was in a groove as far as making pitches. Every hit I gave up in that first, I kind of felt like I made a good pitch. Ground ball kind of got through the four-hole, then Cespedes (bloop single). But after the first couple of innings I felt like I did a better job of getting hitters out quicker, there’s no doubt about that. We had some key double plays that were huge and kind of saved the day for me a little bit. Really played good defense, and just couldn’t get a win tonight. But at the end of the day we’re out here battling, and that’s all that matters.”
Are you going to be able to look at all the starts where you only gave up two runs or fewer and say, hey, you had a good year, period?
“Absolutely. At the end of the day, where I sit with myself and where my stuff is and how my year’s went – it’s been good. Obviously I’ve had some ups and downs, but at the same time you learn from those things, and you take the positives and develop yourself into a better pitcher and person and teammate and player, and at the end of the day, as bad as my streak’s been, we’re still playing hard baseball, and that’s all that matters to me. It’d be a lot different if things were kind of going this way and it didn’t seem like anybody was trying or something like that. But all that matters to me is this team shows up every day ready to go. That’s all that matters.”
On having a 35-pitch second inning
“I saw myself walking off the mound with a lot of pitches after two. To have it start that way and finish like it did was humbling and a real positive going into my next start, those last four innings.”
On pitcher wins and losses and whether some people put too much emphasis on them
“I’m not going to say that wins and losses don’t matter, because at the end of the day a loss is a loss. We play the game to win. When it’s going rough like this, like I said, it’s a lot easier coming to the field knowing what’s going on. Like I said, these teammates, my friends – this is my family. I see these guys more than I do my own family, and we’re here together for each other. At the end of the day, as long as everybody’s healthy and playing, and out there having fun, I know we obviously haven’t been having the season we want, but we’re grinding it out and just trying to finish the season strong.”
**NICK SWISHER
On Shelby Miller getting stronger as the innings wore on after rough first couple
“I tell you what, a loss is a loss, but there were a lot of great things that happened tonight. Wink (Dan Winkler) came on and got his first big-league punchout. D.B. (Dan Burawa) came in and did a great job. I mean, to keep that team to four runs, especially with what could have happened earlier in the game….
“Offensively we had some opportunities. We had the bases loaded there one time. With runners on first and second and nobody out, I grounded into a double play. We’re getting the opportunities, we’re just not taking advantage. We’re just not driving those runs in when we need them.”
Is that what makes it even more infuriating, having some chances early and not getting those runs in, especially with Shelby pitching?
“I haven’t been here all year, but I do know that Shelby, you know, that W has been right there at his fingertips, just haven’t been able to really grasp it. I think either way, we’ve got to come out here and we’ve just got to keep playing. We’re getting those opportunities, and they’re going to fall for us soon. We’ve got a lot of faith in each other. This is a new team, but we’re going to keep grinding. We’re going to keep going out there and giving it everything we’ve got every day.”
Shelby alluded to this, do you feel the same way, that the team is still together and playing hard despite all the losing?
“Yeah, as frustrating as this year has been, I’m pretty surprised to see as tight (close-knit) as the guys are. Because in this situation you could really turn it in, but that’s not how this team is going to do, that’s not how this organization is run. We’re going to go out there and we’re going to grind every night. Whether we win or lose, we’re going to give everything we’ve got.”
**FREDI GONZALEZ
On Shelby Miller lasting six innings after the rough first couple of innings
“He got better. His strength was there all the way through, that’s why we let him back out there in the sixth inning. It was good for him to bounce back after that first couple of innings.”
How concerned were you during his 35-pitch second inning?
“Really concerned. That’s why we had somebody going (warming in bullpen). We didn’t want to put him in a position where he’d hurt himself.”
You guys had a couple of prime scoring opportunities early against Niese, including two on with none out
“Yeah, we had some opportunities. They wiggled out of it. We didn’t score runs. It’s hard to win when you don’t score any runs. We won three games (against the Phillies) back home just scoring six runs in three games. But with this team (Mets) you’ve got to score runs.”
On Winkler being a bright spot, striking out two in his major league debut with no hits, one walk in two-thirds of an inning
“It’s pretty nice to get him out there, get his feet wet. He’s had a long road of rehab, and it’s nice for him to go out there. We didn’t want to use him any more than we did, 20 pitches, that was it. We got that accomplished today and we’ll see how he checks out tomorrow, and use him again down the road a little bit.”
On hoping that Shelby can get some luck and win one of his last two starts
“He’s had a lot of bad luck, and I thought today he pitched really good. Other than the solo home run (in the second), and in the first inning he almost got out of that. He almost got out of that — we almost got out of that if Castro doesn’t drop that ball, he doesn’t give up any runs. Bases loaded, nobody out, and he only gives up one run (in the first inning), for me that’s a nice sign.”
**DAN WINKLER
On getting two strikeouts, one walk in two-thirds of an inning in his MLB debut
“Nerves obviously got to me and I was a little up, I walked that guy (after getting ahead) 0-2; that’s one thing that’s kind of frustrating. But yeah, I’m happy with the results. It’s been 15 months since I’ve been in a game, so I’m definitely pleased with it.”
Lot of emotions, not just your first big-league game but also your first game of any kind since Tommy John surgery
“Absolutely. I couldn’t tell you which one was bigger, because it’s been such a grind just to get back from that injury. First time for me to go on the DL and kind of spend some time away from baseball, so just to be back and competing again is great, and to do it in the big leagues is even better. So, I mean, it’s just icing on the cake.”
On going straight to his MLB debut, in a new organization since his last game, with no minor league rehab games
“Yeah, it’s been such a rollercoaster ride. The Braves giving me such a blessing, giving me time to take my time and … I can’t even think them enough. And then to give me this opportunity, like I said it’s just a blessing. It’s been a rollercoaster, and I’d rather have it no other way. It’s been great.”
You have any family here at the game?
“Yeah, my wife, my parents and my aunt and uncle were here. They’re actually from New Jersey, so it worked out perfect.”
On hitting the home-plate ump in knee with the first pitch of his major league career
“It only happens to me, I feel like (laughs). Just ‘cause it was me. That’s what I told Simmons, too. I said, of course that happens to me with my first pitch in the big leagues. I felt bad. When I get excited I kind of cut (pitches) a little bit, and I cut my four-seamer. (Laughs again.) It wasn’t very good, but it worked out.”
