Braves quotes from Tommy La Stella, Alex Wood, Jason Heyward and manager Fredi Gonzalez after Sunday’s win against the Phillies.
**ALEX WOOD
On the rainy conditions
“Those are kind of the toughest ones to throw in, when it’s misting like that, just because it’s hard to really dry your hand off on anything. The back of your pants and the ball, it seems like it’s always wet. Somehow we managed to make it through.”
On coming out after the 99-minute rain delay, having retired last 13 batters he faced
“I think if it had been really quick I might have had a chance to get back out there. But I was at 90-some pitches and I threw six (innings). Roger (McDowell) said when I came out, any time the tarp goes out you know it’s going to be a minimum 30-minute delay, and if it was anything longer than that my day was probably going to be done.”
On once again giving up a homer or other run early, then bearing down
“Yeah, well, I wish it wasn’t like that. I kind of pride myself on not making big mistakes, missing small. I think I was pretty frustrated because that was a bad miss by me when he hit that home run. So it was one of those things where it was frustrating, but then you’ve got to bear down. It felt pretty good when C.J. hit that two-run home run our next time up. That was definitely a big confidence-booster for me. I felt like after he did that, like I could hopefully take the game over, and that’s what I was able to do.”
On La Stella being so good in big situations in first two months in majors
“When he went up to bat with the bases loaded, I looked up at the scoreboard at his stats with the bases loaded, and I was like, my God. He was hitting .887 or something crazy like that. And then two seconds later he hits another bases-clearing double with the bases loaded. It’s unbelievable. Hopefully he’ll keep doing that the rest of the year, because that’s pretty unheard of.”
On winning first series out of the break
“We finished off before the All-Star break swinging it pretty well, and we swung it well today and pitch well and played good defense. There’s not much more you can ask for.”
**TOMMY LA STELLA
On hitting with bases loaded
“Bases loaded is a big situation, and I think the more you can remain calm and keep your emotions in check, the better success you’ll have.”
On having a good two-strike approach, is that something you’ve had throughout minor leagues, that patience, etc.?
“I think so. I mean, I think it’s something that comes somewhat naturally to me. Sometimes I like to be a little bit more aggressive with two strikes and be OK with the punchout, and if I get a pitch I can do some damage on, do some damage. But it’s always a work in progress.”
On winning first series out of the All-Star break
“It’s nice. Obviously coming off the break, I felt we played well, put together some good at-bats, we got some good pitching and some timely hits.”
Impressive performance by Alex Wood in the rain?
“Absolutely. He kept those guys off-balance. It’s a veteran lineup, a lot of good hitters. He did an outstanding job.”
On not showing any apparent nerves about hitting with bases loaded, with two outs and RISP, those kinds of situations
“I think as hitters you’ve kind of got to want to be in that situation. If you can kind of look forward to those situations you’re going to be a little more successful. You’re going to find yourself in those situations whether you want them or not, so I think it goes a long way to really see yourself in those situations and see yourself succeeding.”
**JASON HEYWARD
On La Stella getting so many big hits with two outs, bases loaded, etc.
“I feel like we all equally take the pressure off each other, that’s been a bit part of our stretch right before we went into the All-Star break. Right now we’re putting up good ABs and we’re being tough outs regardless, putting the ball in play and wearing that pitcher down. We all went up there – I mean, I know they didn’t throw a lot of strikes today, but I know at times (before recent stretch) we went up there and swung at those pitches and helped them out pretty quickly.”
On Chris Johnson’s power surge, four homers in past five games
“It’s good for C.J. to go up there and swing the bat, get comfortable, be aggressive in the zone, not try to feel things out. Him and Tommy gave us a big lift today, along with a lot of other good ABs.”
On Kendrick being tough sometimes on Braves in past, giving up six runs in five innings today
“I’ve seen him not be crisp and do well against us, but today I felt like he didn’t really have a feel for the strike zone and putting the ball where he wanted to every time. Again, we were patient today for the most part. I think it’s a no-brainer that he didn’t have his best stuff, but those are the games where you’ve got to take advantage of it. I feel like guys sometimes might not have their best stuff against us, and we go out there and help them out by swinging away. That’s part of it, making them throw strikes and doing damage when we get a chance.”
**FREDI GONZALEZ
“Before we get going, the grounds crew did a hell of a job. They really did because that field, I mean it was wet from yesterday and it was wet all day today and they did a nice job keeping that field playable. Especially after almost a two hour rain delay.”
On Alex Wood and the win
“Woody was good. He battled through some elements there and we took advantage of some of the base on balls that they gave us and got some crooked numbers up. Tommy La Stella keeps hitting that gap. Either left-center or right-center he finds that gap and usually finds it with people on base, so that’s good to see. We kept the line moving today.”
More on La Stella and his hits with two outs, with runners on, with bases loaded….
“He’s been with us now almost a month and a half, and that was the book on him. When we got him from Triple-A all the minor league people and player development people said this guy could hit, this guy could find a barrel through the ball and he sure has done that. Hopefully that continues.”
On Alex Wood going six innings, out after the delay
“If it wasn’t for the rain delay he would have gone back out there in the seventh inning. But you know you got a two-hour rain delay and he got over 90 pitches, maybe even close to 100. There’s no sense to go back out there. Nothing good could happen. He would have gotten hurt or something not good, so he gave us a great performance and we were able to add on some runs and get him the win.
“At least he pitched six innings. I was worried there with the weather, with Eddie (Ed Mangan, head groundskeeper) telling us the weather was coming and I’m thinking this may happen in the fourth inning. And then all of a sudden he’s in line for the victory so at least the weather held up and our groundskeepers did a nice job getting us through six.”
On Justin Upton coming out of the game in sixth inning
“He got hit. (Kyle) Kendrick hit him on the triceps and I think the rain delay also got him. Where you’re just sitting around and he’s trying to keep it heated up with some pads and then he came up just before the start after the rain delay he goes, ‘Skip, it’s stiff.’ So I said you know what, let’s not even take a chance here. I think at that point we had a five-run lead and run (Jordan) Schafer in there, he can play defense for us and get him (Upton) some treatment right away.
“I’ve got my fingers crossed that he’ll be in the lineup tomorrow. We’ll see.”
On Gattis’ probable return to the lineup
“As soon as you guys leave I’ll call him, but my take is that unless something – unless he’s stiff or something — but he got six at-bats (Sunday at Triple-A) so I’m thinking he’s good. I expect him to be here tomorrow and in the lineup tomorrow.”
