Braves quotes after Tuesday’s 2-1 win against Nationals

“It was a good game. Wisler pitched great. The whole staff, Jack (Edwin Jackson) and Vizcaino. It was good to see Wisler – because I know he’s struggled against the Nationals – to go out and pitch the way he did hopefully gives him confidence. I think he’s got one more start, so he can carry it over to his last start and then to the offseason. But it was a good experience for him, and then Jack in the eighth and Vizky in the ninth.”

On Wisler saying he’s getting more confidence each time out, have you seen that?

“I know he can’t see; I think we need to get an eye doctor in here. (He’s referring to Wisler having bad vision, even with contacts, and not being able to see signs catcher puts down in some night games especially at Turner Field which has no outfield lights.)

“But we talked about that (confidence). Sat him down and said, remember that cocky guy who first came up here? I want to see that guy. I don’t want to see the guy shaking his head. A couple of times I had to go out to the mound and kind of tell him to get the little guy, whoever’s talking to him in his head out and just throw the ball, be confident in what you’re doing. And he did a good job.”

On the progress Wisler has made since giving up seven runs without getting out of second inning of Sept. 3 game at Washington

“Yeah, that game was one of the games where you could see him fighting himself, working real slow, looking, like in the stands and shaking his head. That’s not what big-league guys do. Like the guy for the other team tonight (Roark), if he made a mistake he just got the ball and threw the next pitch, and that’s what big-league guys do. And Wis is getting there. We’ve got a lot of young guys who are getting there. They’re working on it, they’re a work-in-progress, but there has been progress.”

On how satisfying season has been for Pierzynski personally, from individual performance standpoint

“It’s been fun. You look back and you say, if this happened or that happened. But obviously I’ve got to play more than I planned on coming in, but I was ready and from Day 1 at spring training I just talked about putting the barrel on the ball, and that hasn’t changed. There’s going to be ups and downs and you get out of your plan sometimes, but at the end of the day that’s really all you’re trying to do, and it’s been good. It’s been fun.”

Everyone seemed to have trouble with Roark except you tonight

“Yeah, he made a couple of mistakes to me. A slider for the first homer and a heater out over the plate for the second one. But he’s good, though. I know they have a good rotation, but for that guy not to be in the rotation, it shows you how much depth they have for starting pitching.”

**FREDI GONZALEZ

A.J. kind of put the team on his back tonight, huh?

“He did a nice job. He got three hits, two home runs, made a nice play on the bunt in the ninth inning. Good, well played game. And it all starts from the guy on the mound (Wisler). He gives up the homer to Turner, other than that he pitched really well. And I’m glad it came out to where he’s going to get the last start of the season, the way he’s been pitching here in the last five or six starts. He deserves that, run him out there one more time, get another start under his belt.”

On whether he’s seen improvement he hoped to see from Wisler since his worst start Sept. 3 at Washington

“Yes. Sometimes it takes some of those (bad) games, to kick it up to the next gear. And sure enough, it has. He pounds the strike zone, he throws secondary pitches for strikes. He’s done one heck of a job. But again, going back to the 38-year-old man (Pierzynski). Here was a 38-year-old guy who was supposed to catch 50 games, and he’s caught over 100 and is hitting right at .300 and doing one heck of a job for us.”

On Vizcaino getting save after working around two hits to start ninth

“The first two hits, he was ahead on both those hitters — Werth and Robinson – who got base hits off of him. But A.J. bailed him out on the double play. Danny Castro (at third base) turning a double play there, being heads-up and turning a 2-5-3 (2-5-4) double play. And going to his breaking ball, that’s something I’m glad that I’m seeing (from Vizcaino). He’s not relying on his 99-mile-an-hour fastball, I think all three pitches were breaking balls, if I’m not mistaken, to den Dekker. I’m happy to see his growing pitching the ninth inning.”

More on Pierzysnki, hitting about .340 since July 4

“He puts the ball in play, and he finds grass all the time. Look at the first hit of the game tonight for him.”

How big can he be for Wisler and other rookies, catching them all season?

“I think it’s big, and A.J. doesn’t pamper them. A.J.challenges them — a lot. After he walked Harper, I think it was his second (plate appearance), he said, ‘Let’s get after him.’ I think he got him out the next couple of times. I think A.J.’s been good for all our young pitchers.”

On Wisler making pitches now with guys on base, not like during his slump when he was struggling in those spots

“Yeah, he has. He ain’t facing this (Nationals) lineup in Gwinnett. We talk about this every time he goes out there. He’s got to get better, and he has. The more you run him out there in these situations, the better he’s going to be and the better we’re going to be.”

On Olivera getting hit by pitch despite elbow pad/guard

“We’re calling it a left-elbow contusion, and we’ll see. Day to day. He got hit right on the bone.”

Think he needs a better pad?

“He needs a better pad, yes.”

**MATT WISLER

On A.J. Pierzysnki’s performance

“A.J. had a good game today offensively, swung the bat well. Those two home runs were obviously difference-makers, so thanks to him for helping me out.”

On progress Wisler’s made since giving up seven runs without getting out of 2nd inning last month at Washington

“I’ve come a long way, I think a lot more mentally than physically. Obviously I’m making more pitches now, but I think the biggest thing in the last two games is attacking hitters, getting ahead. It just makes pitching a lot easier. Even tonight, I’m not perfect in the zone, I’m missing up, but they’re late on it because I’m up in the count so they’ve got to be on defense a little bit. Attacking hitters in that first inning, obviously it could have gotten out of control. I worked through that, so I was pretty happy about that.”

On getting Harper and Werth on flyout and popup after consecutive singles to start game

“I’ve got guys on first and second, not a good start. But just working to get Harper out was a big one; he’s obviously a real talented hitter, so to get him out in a situation like that was big…. That was a big inning for me.”

On importance of being able to finish strong after his July-August slump

“I need it. Coming into next year, obviously I’ve got to start earning my spot now. That’s what September’s been for me, trying to get back and show them I can pitch up here, show them I can get outs up here. For me, just getting confidence up here, knowing I can get outs coming into next year, just getting myself mentally ready coming into next year.”

Biggest difference in now and when he was struggling

“Now stopped worrying so much, only thing I try to do now is make a good pitch. Like that first inning, I was just trying to make a good pitch to Harper, worry about hitting the glove, nothing else but hitting the glove.”

**HECTOR OLIVERA (through translator Alex Cotto)

On getting hit in the elbow by pitch

“Yeah, it caught me kind of in-between (the pieces of the elbow guard). It caught me in the funny bone area. It’s a little sore right now, but I think I’ll be good tomorrow or the next day.”