MIAMI — Braves quotes from Evan Gattis, Shae Simmons, Aaron Harang and manager Fredi Gonzalez after Sunday's 4-2 win to complete sweep at Miami.
**EVAN GATTIS
On the win and sweep
“It’s nice to take three games. We came in tied for first with them. It’s a good ballclub, and it’s good to get three wins (against them).”
On homer off Cishek
“I haven’t faced him; I’m pretty sure I haven’t faced him ever. (Actually he was 1-for-1 against him before Sunday.) You know, I got a pitch I could handle. If he throws those first two pitches for strikes it might be a different story. But yeah, I just got a pitch I could handle.”
Anyone else give you advice on facing him?
“No, I looked at the report to see what that says about him. Being a closer, you’re going to throw any pitch in any count, that kind of stuff. And I know that he throws from down here (sidearm). Other than that and watching him face other people…”
On Shea Simmons
“He was in the high-pressure situation yesterday. I think that helps. I think that’s the best way you can come in, baptism by fire or whatever. But having that high-pressure situation yesterday I think kinda helps for today. He’s got a two-run lead and minimized damage.”
You like the look on his face in that situation?
“Yeah, he’s composed, he’s not shaken up. He’s been around a little bit, he’s played a lot of baseball.”
On Harang
“Aaron said he didn’t really feel his best, but that’s news to me. After that one pitch – you tip your cap to Ozuna, maybe it was a hanger, but 3-2 breaking ball, it was in there. (Ozuna) is not very good on breaking balls, so tip your cap to him. After that he was pretty dominant.”
What do you think of the home-run sculpture, you put a little dent in it
“The sculpture? I like it. I like this park. It’s been good to me.”
**FREDI GONZALEZ
On Gattis’ big homer and Braves win
“Boy, that’s a big home run there. I mean, in this ballpark off that reliever, that doesn’t happen very often. The matchup there didn’t favor us, but … I haven’t seen it, but maybe Cishek got the ball up in the strike zone a little bit, and Gattis made him pay for it. And he got it out in the deepest part of the ballpark. Good for us.
“Our pitching staff did a terrific job today. We were a little short in the bullpen, trying to stay away from (using) some guys. Harang goes out and gives us 6-2/3. Put Woody in and he gives us 1 1/3. And then the young kid there in the ninth inning did a nice job. So we got into the off day tomorrow feeling pretty good after winning a series here coming out of four (losses) in a row against Boston. I like the way our club bounced back.”
How close were you to pulling Simmons after he gave up two singles and a walk in the ninth?
“Close. Not because of the situation; just because I didn’t want him to crank up some pitches. He could have gotten into the high 20s, and I don’t know how much he’s touched those. And even if he has touched those, it’s a little different stress level in Double-A throwing 22, 23 pitches than it is in the major leagues. So that’s the only reason I would’ve taken him out of the game.”
On what Roger McDowell said to him when he chatted before the last batter of the inning
“I don’t know, but Roger goes out there at a perfect time to kind of settle the kid a little bit. Gave him a little breather and, like I always say, get the hamster back on the wheel there. Roger, for me, he’s got impeccable timing.”
What was determining factor in leaving him in?
“Because he’s pretty darn good. We’ve got good reports and he’s got electric stuff, so that was the reason we gave him an opportunity.”
On Harang settling down after giving up 2nd-inning homer to Ozuna
“It was a hanging breaking ball. Other than that he pitched his normal game. He doesn’t throw the ball over the plate, he doesn’t give guys good looks at him. And so he did that the rest of the way, which was good. He doesn’t get anything (decision) out of it, because if I’m not mistaken Woody gets the win, but very easily (Harang) could have been out of there in the fifth or sixth inning and we could have been up against it trying to piece it together the rest of the game.”
On sweeping Marlins after losing 4 in a row to Red Sox
“It (showed) great character of our club. We didn’t play well against Boston whether it was home or on the road, and we lose that tough one (Thursday) night and then get here at 3:30, 4 in in the morning. And we came out and probably played about as good a series as we’ve played in a while. I’m really proud of our club.”
On La Stella hitting .400 through first five games of his career
“We run him out there and he gives you good at-bats. So we’ll keep running him out there.”
**SHAE SIMMONS
With Kimbrel not available to pitch today, did you think you might get called?
“Yeah, but I still didn’t know if they would put me in in that (save) situation. But I got through it. I’m not going to say it wasn’t a little intimidating, but I got some ground balls. If you’re going to get ground balls to anybody you want it to be (Andrelton) Simmons.”
What did Roger say when he came out?
“He just wanted me to relax and kind of regroup. Just focus on my next couple of pitches and try to work out of it. He told me (if you) fall behind hitters they’re going to be able to sit back and pick out their own pitches.
“When Reed Johnson got the little ground ball through the 6-hole, if I would have set him up a little different maybe that would have happened different. But it worked out, so….”
On the last two days
“It’s kind of surreal. I don’t really … I feel like it hasn’t happened, like I wasn’t even out there. But now that it’s over with, I can kind of ease my mind. I got through my first couple of appearances OK, so hopefully I can just continue to work and get better from here.”
Kind of a whirlwind for you?
“Yeah, it has, it’s been pretty hectic. Just trying to keep in touch with everybody and let everybody know what’s going on, and then media and then the games. The games are the biggest issue.” (laughs)
Nice to have a day off tomorrow in Atlanta?
“Yeah, it will be. I’ve got to figture out some living situations and all that.”
(On chair at his locker were the large lineup card that’s posted in the dugout and the smaller lineup card that Fredi Gonzalez carries, and game ball from today’s game. Gonzalez also gave him a lineup card from Saturday’s game, his debut.)
**AARON HARANG
Looked like you got in a groove after the Ozuna homer in second inning
“Yeah, I didn’t feel great, felt a little inconsistent there early on. Obviously 3-2 curveball to Ozuna there was up; the previous two curveballs he swung at and completely missed, and I just left that one up over the plate. He’s a big hitter, swings hard. But after that, I think I was able to calm down and gather myself a little bit, make pitches. I was making them put the ball in play.”
Nice to bounce back with a good start after getting knocked around here a month ago?
“Yeah. I mean, they are a good team, and they don’t get cheated up there. When they’re up there swinging at stuff over the plate, they swing hard. So I was able to make some pitches when I needed to so they weren’t squaring balls up as much. I know my outfielders were having to run a little bit today, but they were out there getting the job done.”
On Gattis’ game-calling
“Every time Evan’s out there he gets better. It’s a learning process. The more you’re out there the more experience you get. He’s got a couple of pitchers he’s had to learn completely. But we were on the right page, and obviously he came up and got that big hit in the ninth inning.”
It appears he has that part (hitting) down
(laughs) “Yeah, we’re not worried about him and his hitting. But no, we worked good today.”
On Wood in bullpen
“Woody is really coming into his own. He’s figuring out his role right now and coming in and establishing himself and executing pitches.”
And Shae Simmons
“He came in last night and got that one huge out striking out Saltalamacchia, and coming in today obviously the heart’s got to be racing knowing the situation you’re in. But he was able to buckle down with two runners on and get that groundout.’
