What the Braves had to say after Sunday’s 4-3 home loss to the Giants:
ENDER INCIARTE
On Giants’ sweep
“They played great baseball. Sometimes it’s not going to go our way. We keep battling, keep competing and we’ve just got to turn the page and keep playing hard.”
With Braves being so aggressive at plate, do you think teams are starting to adjust to that, change how they’re approaching you?
“I think that’s not a bad thing, because if they start pitching around (hitters), we should just take those take those balls and starting getting on base, take our walks. But they’re going to do whatever they can to get us out of being on base, so we’ve just got to do our best to score some runs and we’re going to continue to do it.”
Does day off tomorrow help, so you can clear your minds of this series?
“An off day is always good. We’re going to rest and get at ‘em the next series.”
On losing three in a row after five-game winning streak
“We’re not going to win 20 in a row. We can win five then lose three, then can win 10 and lose seven. It’s going to happen like that. So we’ve just got to stay consistent. It’s a long season. We’ve just got to play hard and hopefully keep winning games.”
“We’re a good team. We know what we have. It’s just a series that we’re going to turn the page. Nobody’s worried. We know what we can do. It was just one of those series.”
BRIAN SNITKER
On Mike Soroka’s game
“He wasn’t as sharp, obviously. They’re going to have games like that. We’re going to have series like that. It’s just the way it is. It’s a long season. It just didn’t go our way.”
On Giants’ experience, did it show in some of their at-bats?
“I think the whole series, it did. You could just tell, there’s a lot of ground-ball, beat-the-shift (hits), broken-bat singles. They’re not up there trying to hit the ball around the world, they’re putting the ball in play, going the other way and things like that. There were a lot of hits like that. And we had opportunities. They gave us extra outs in innings where we couldn’t get a big hits in those situations to get back in the game.”
On aggressiveness, do you think teams will start approaching you differently now that they realize how aggressive Braves hitters have been this season?
“Absolutely. They’re probably trying to get us to expand the zone and things like that. They’re watching all these games we’re playing. They see that, so they’re going to pick up on it. We’re going to have to re-adjust. We’re just going to have to be more patient and things. ... It’s what it’s all about, making adjustments. We talk about it all the time. And if they’re going to start pitching us differently then we’re going to have to have a better approach.”
You noticed that today, them pitching you differently?
“A little bit. I’ve noticed it quite honesly off and on for a while. But the guys have done a good job getting decisions on balls in the strike zone. I do not want them to not be aggressive. We’re going to have to play like that. And they’ll figure it out.”
On Soroka and what he’ll learn from this
“He’s going to take something away from every outing that he has, especially this first year. There’s going to be things that go on, things that he experiences facing the most more experienced hitters, the different lineup and things like that. He’s going to take away a lot just playing the game, being in the major leagues and facing major league hitters up and down the lineup.”
On his poise
“He’s very poised for his age, very confident and the stuff’s very good. He’s got the makings of a really good pitcher.”
Is he set to make another start?
“Yeah, right now looking for him to make his next start.”
On not getting too high during five-game winning streak or too low in a three-game home sweep
“And I didn’t, because there’s going to be – this won’t be the (only) series where things don’t go your way. We play way too many games for too long for things to be just perfect and click all the time. You’re going to have to fight your way through situations like this. This is the first one we’re having to do and it won’t be the last.”
On Ronald Acuna
“He hit three of the hardest hit balls I’ve ever seen hit yesterday and didn’t have anything to show for it. Long as he keeps doing that, stays aggressive, keeps swinging the bat, he’s going to be fine.”
On Jose Bautista
“I’m pleased watching him in the series here. He’s moving around good. Handles himself well. It was really good to see him turn that velocity around that last at-bat. You forget he’s kind of new to the year really. I like what I’ve seen so far.”
MIKE SOROKA
On the game:
“You’re not always going to have command of the game right away. I thought they came out and took some good pitches early. It’s just my job to keep attacking. I thought I got away from that a little bit, but (Tyler Flowers) and I stayed in as much of a rhythm as we could. We did a good job staying over the middle. A lot of those pitches get down and stay in the infield for outs.”
On Giants hitters having so much experience
“You see that lineup, you look at the names, they’ve been around for a long time. A lot of rings over there. Just to see that and see how they take some of our pitches, that’s our way of going forward.”
On his first hit
“That was a small highlight for sure. Got up there and see ball, hit ball. He threw me one over the plate. I just stayed on it, managed to punch one up the middle. So that’s pretty cool.”
On hitting in general
“I don’t put pressure on myself to hit. I know you’re going to see some of the best stuff in the world. There’s no reason to put pressure on yourself at the plate. But at the same time, you have to do your job. First and foremost, get the bunts down when we have to. That’s definitely something you can help yourself and the team out with.”
On his pitch command today
“They came out and took some good pitches early. Sinker was a little flatter than I’d have liked out of the gate. I kind of got away from attacking. Put myself in hitters’ counts. You have to be perfect. So definitely when I come out next time, it’s going to be a goal to keep attacking.”
Did nerves impact your control?
“Not really. They came out and took some good pitches. Definitely the two walks, the 3-2 pitches were rather uncompetitive. It’s just my job to keep attacking. We just never really found our rhythm today. I feel like they were controlling the game a little bit more than I’d liked. That’s not something you’re used to as much. But it’s something I’m going to have to learn. You have to come out and keep attacking and make them play your game as opposed to theirs. I think there weren’t too many control issues. I made a lot of good pitches. They were just clipping the plate, an inch off. There’s no reason to change anything just because we’re missing by that much. Some of those days there’ll be balls put in play that were right on the black for a strike, you know?”
Were they being more patient than the Mets? Or had a better idea what to look for?
“Maybe a little bit. Definitely early they weren’t going to give into that sinker away. But that’s something I really have to realize early. We were able to change that a little bit for sure. Certainly mix in more four-seamers, pitch in a little bit. I made a couple good pitches in on lefties. Like I said, it’s just small, small differences that make that game into what it was. What it was in the fourth inning there, it could be a day where everything’s being caught and you’re pitching into the sixth or seventh.”
Two starts, 10 innings in the majors. What’s jumped out?
“Guys see their pitch a little more. Guys don’t miss too many pitches. Too many quality strikes are not taken or swung at for them. But good stuff still gets outs. I think I got away from that a little bit today. I was just trying to put the ball into places instead of attacking with my best stuff. But it’s just the way it is sometimes. You’re going to have some of the experience they have over there (in San Francisco) with all those rings. You’re going to have change-ups low that are just spit on that you’re not quite used to. That’s something to take into the future and learn that that’s going to happen. You have to come back and make your pitches as good as possible as well.”
It didn’t turn out how you hoped, but it was your first start. What was today like?
“Being here for the exhibition helped for sure. To get out there and see the bats up. I did feel at home. The crowd was awesome this weekend. I wish we could’ve pulled out a couple wins for sure, but it’s a crowd I hopefully get to play in front of a lot. I think that’s pretty special. It was the first time, and hopefully the first of many.”
