Charlie Culberson ensured the Braves and Nationals wouldn’t endure extra innings for the second consecutive game.
Culberson hit a walk-off homer, his second of the home stand, to give the Braves a 4-2 win Sunday. They took three of four from the Nationals after entering the series trailing the division lead by 0.5 games.
Here’s what the victorious Braves said after the game:
Manager Brian Snitker
On Culberson’s homer: “It’s worked a couple times this week (batting him in the ninth). Couldn’t happen to a better guy.”
Not requiring extras: “The big thing today was Anibal (Sanchez). He was really good, efficient. Seven innings was huge in a day like this. We got to the seventh and pitched the two guys we hadn’t used yesterday. That’ll benefit us the next three days before the off day.”
On Dansby Swanson: “Big hit and then it didn’t surprise me (he stretched single into double). He pushes the envelope. He comes out of the box looking for two all the time. That was an aggressive play that started as soon as he hit the ball. It wasn’t a second thought or an afterthought when he got to first. The reason guys make those plays is because they come out of the box looking to make a play.”
Walk-off hero Charlie Culberson
On his homer: “The feeling never gets old. I don’t really know what to say. Just right place, right time. Things just work out. It doesn’t get old. It’s a lot of fun.”
What are you looking for against Tanner Roark? “We talked about putting good at-bats together and not try to win it on one swing. It started with Dansby right there. Great at-bat, hustle double. That got me in my mindset of doing the same thing. First pitch I swung too hard. But knowing that if I put a good swing on a good pitch, something will happen.”
Did you know it was a homer off the bat? “Yeah, I knew it. I don’t hit many home runs. But that was just a good swing. I feel like he made a decent pitch on me. I had that feeling that it was going out.”
Starter Anibal Sanchez
On his outing: “They asked me in the sixth inning how I felt, and I said yeah I want to stay in the game. I just want to be there and make good pitches.”
On giving up homer to Turner: “Sometime in the game you’re going to make a mistake. I made a mistake and paid for it there. This guy, he put a really good swing on it, really good contact. After 0-2, I think I could’ve thrown a better pitch in that situation.”
On eating innings: “Especially when we play against a division team we’re facing for the top of the division, it’s really important to come to the game focused on what you want to do and keep those guys off balance. Do the best for the team win.”
Shortstop Dansby Swanson
On his aggressive baserunning: “I just felt like I read it right. I just felt like I touched the bag before he got to me. A lot of it’s just trying to be aggressive. We’ve thought like that all year. I felt like I read the throw right and I took off.”
On his team: “You can’t script it. It’s truly amazing just seeing how this team competes. No matter the score, we just continue to do what we do. We’ve got all the faith in everybody in here. It’s like a family and it’s special to be a part of.”
