CINCINNATI — Braves quotes from Jason Grilli, Mike Foltynewicz, Jonny Gomes and Fredi Gonzalez after Tuesday’s 4-3 walkoff loss to the Reds.
**FREDI GONZALEZ
On the loss and Foltynewicz’ performance
“Folty was outstanding. He really was. I think every chance we get to get him in those situations, it’s going to be good for him. I really liked the matchup of (Marlon) Byrd and him (with runners on) second and third (in the seventh). It’s his game. He overpowered him the first three at-bats and got him out.
“The situation with fielding his position late in the game is a little different that fielding his position early in the game, or in Double-A or Triple-A. So all those situations you can put him in, and the more you can put him in, the better he’s going to be. Two-out walk in the first inning, after two strikes, four straight pitches (to Votto). Then Frazier gets him. That’s a learning point right there.
“Then we came right back, tied the game and took the lead, and he held it. He held the lead most of the game. So overall, a good developing day for Folty.
“Avi (Avilan)came in and did a nice job getting Votto out with a man on third, and J.J. with a clean (eighth) inning. And then you know what, Grilli, they hit the ball right in the corner over there, and nine times out of 10 Simba (Simmons) makes that exchange and he’s out by 20 feet at the plate. And today we didn’t make that exchange.”
Good situation to bring in closer in tie game on the road?
“I thought so. You always go back and forth, but I thought it was a perfect time to do it. I’m assuming that they didn’t pitch (lefty) Cingrani because he wasn’t available, he’s pitched two days in a row. Chapman’s out of the game. We’re going to face the bottom of the order with Grilli, and our bullpen against their bullpen for the 10th. Not every single situation makes sense, but I thought this one was a good one. Haven’t used Grilli for a while, good time to get him in there also. But it just didn’t turn out that way.”
On Jim Johnson
“He’s run off five or six good appearances, if I’m not mistaken.”
On EY bunting with a runner on second, none out and Foltynewicz on deck
“He’s bunting on his own there. I know Folty’s got three RBIs in four at-bats, but we ain’t going to give him the Silver Slugger award just yet. He (EY) is trying to get on base, maybe a first-and-third. He’s a guy that’s capable of getting on with his legs, and I think that’s what he was trying to do there.”
On going 2-for-13 with runners in scoring position
“You’ve still got to drive them in. You get them on base and all that good stuff, but you’ve got to drive them in. We didn’t do that tonight.”
**MIKE FOLTYNEWICZ
On his performance
“I think I pitched better, going later in the innings. Just one bad pitch there in the beginning. I really couldn’t find the fastball to Frazier and just let one go over the plate. But other than that I think I pitched well. Just a couple of mistakes there, with the throwing error, too, which I think cost us the game. Set up Grilli there in the ninth with a bad situation. He should have been setting up to close instead of trying to hold. But other than that… The defense played well for me, especially the outfield running around out there. It was a good game.”
Did you think you rushed the throw on the bunt?
“I haven’t had one of them all year, a bunt. I just didn’t have a good grip on it when I threw it and it kind of sailed on me. In that situation you’ve got to make that play. Unfortunately I didn’t, so that one’s on me.”
Did you feel better tonight than you did even in winning your first two starts?
“I didn’t have the fastball really working there in the first inning, I left that one over the plate. But other than that, all my pitches were working, the curveball especially, tonight. Threw a couple of good sliders, changeup was alright. Just keep going out there and getting more and more relaxed, so that’s a good thing. Just have to continue to work the next four days and get back out there and go at it.”
The two-out walk to Votto in the first inning before Frazier’s homer
“I had Votto 0-2 there, and I think I just tried to overthrow to get him to swing and miss. And when Frazier came up, he just hit the home run. And the throwing error. Like I said, two mistakes cost you a game. But that’s baseball. Just going to go out there and get them next time.”
**JASON GRILLI
Like coming in as closer in tie game on road?
“That’s my job, yeah. I want the ball any time it’s given to me.”
Feel fine physically?
“Felt great. A little rusty, maybe. But otherwise I felt fine.”
Ran into two hot hitters, especially Pena
“Yeah, could have probably made a better pitch to him. They’re a strong team at home.”
Back felt fine, though?
“Yeah, back in the saddle. So, start from there.”
**JONNY GOMES
Fredi thought Simmons had a really good chance to throw out runner at home if he’d caught ball. What did you see?
“I thought he had a really good chance. The transfer, it’s probably one in a hundred. You’re talking about, he threw out Bryce Harper when he was four feet off the bag. I think when the ball was in his glove, I don’t even think (Lorenzen) was even at (third) base yet. But, just rushed it too much. But just talking about the arm he has, what he showed throwing the guy out at Washington, I thought he would be out by a mile. I was surprised they actually sent him.”
On Foltynewicz
“Power fastball. If it wasn’t for that 2-0 pitch to Frazier, he might have finished the game. But really impressive. He’s definitely taking strides forward every single time he’s walked out. That’s all you can ask for in a kid.”
