Braves quotes from Freddie Freeman, Tommy La Stella, Justin Upton and Fredi Gonzalez after Friday’s 7-6 win.
FREDI GONZALEZ
On early offense
“We had three two-run homers from the Upton Brothers and Freeman and Santana made it hold up. The sixth inning he gave up four runs after he hits Hairston. He was really in control the whole game. You crack the door a little bit on a good team like that and they are going to put a number on you. And they did. We held it together the rest of the way. It was nice to shake hands. It seems like an eternity. The way we are used to winning, eight games (losing streak) is an eternity not being able to celebrate a little bit.”
Did win feel extra special?
“I don’t know about special but it kind of felt weird. It kind of felt that you had to remind yourself that we lost eight in a row because … we haven’t played that bad of baseball. We just haven’t scored any runs. Today we did a nice job of scoring runs and making it hold up.”
On Justin Upton home run
“Straight away center against Strasburg is not an easy feat. He hit a bomb there and got us on the board after two quick outs. B.J. put a nice at-bat on later in the game. And Freeman. And Tommy to get his first home run of his career and the guys gave him a nice little rookie treatment in the dugout. It was kind of fun. Now it’s celebrate for a little bit then try to win the series and keep rolling.”
On Ervin Santana
“He has been really good, his last five or six starts. He’s been really good. He gives us a chance to win every night. That’s what he was brought here for to give us those innings and go deep in games and give us an opportunity to win.”
On Jordan Walden
“He was the MVP for me. Well, it’s not easy saving games either, especially one-run games against that club, but to get four outs and get the hold. We were in position with the off days and the guys who haven’t been used to get the opportunity to go for it. Walden did a hell of a job. The last seven outs (in a row) were retired by Walden and Kimbrel. That’s good.”
On silent treatement after Tommy La Stella home run
“The word spreads quickly to not say anything to him. But they like the kid. They poke fun of him. That was nice to see. He really had some back spin on that ball. He’s been better than fine since he’s been up here. He’s been terrific.”
FREDDIE FREEMAN
On win
“It was a good team win all around.”
On jumping on Strasburg early
“We came out swinging and hit the ball hard multiple times. It was definitely a nice way to start the ball game. They made a little run at the end but not enough for them. It was a good team win tonight.
On success against Strasburg
“I can’t put a finger on that. I really can’t. He’s got great stuff. The mistakes he makes, for some reason we are able to hit them. That’s what he did tonight. He left some pitches out over (the plate) and we were able to jump on him pretty early today.”
Does this give you confidence going forward?
“We never really lost confidence. We haven’t been playing good but neither have they. We didn’t get too far out of it. This was a good way to kick off our tough, long homestand. If we can come out here tomorrow against Roark and do the same thing, jump on him early, that would be ideal.”
On Walden and Kimbrel
“It’s kind of what you expect from them. They’ve been pretty much spot on all season. When you see Walden and Kimbrel come in the game you know we have a good chance to win the ball game.”
Does it help knowing the success you have against Nationals to not get down during slide?
“We don’t think about that. We have to face three tough pitchers. It doesn’t matter if you have their number the last 11 or 12 games we’ve played against them or the last two years. They’ve got a chance to beat us at any time. That’s what we needed to do tonight is to get to them early and let them know that even though we lost eight in a row, we are still here to stay.”
TOMMY LA STELLA
On home run
“It was a lot of fun and it ended up being a crucial run for us at the end which I didn’t think anyone anticipated the way the game was going at the beginning. But it’s baseball. They put together some good at-bats and it ended up mattering.”
On silent treatment
“I figured I was going to get the big-league treatment since I’ve only been up here for three months. No home runs. I figured it was coming. When I got down there and saw them all sitting it was pretty much what I expected.”
On going straight up the tunnel
“I went right up the tunnel and kind of froze them out myself. I countered the big-league treatment. They I came back and it was fun.”
Did you see the ball go over the fence?
“I wasn’t sure but I knew I got it pretty well. It’s been so long since I’ve hit one of those things, I couldn’t be too sure. So I wanted to make sure that if nothing else I had a shot at three if it didn’t go over the wall. I saw it at the very end.”
JUSTIN UPTON
On his home run
“It was middle to the upper part of the zone and I just got on top of it.”
On success against Strasburg and Nationals
“We go out there and we try to grind the best we can with professional at-bats. We got good pitches to hit tonight.”
On ending losing streak
“Yeah, obviously we struggled on the road. Everybody knows that. It’s a new day. A new ball club and we had a chance to go out and win a ball game and we did that.
Does having games left with Nationals ease any anxiety?
“I’m not saying it’s early, but we still have 50-plus games left. There is a lot of baseball to be played. We know any team that comes to town or we go to them, we have to win as many ball games as possible at this point. We can’t panic.”
On setting home run record with brother
“I never take it for granted coming to the ball park every day with my brother. It’s special. I try to take it in every single day but when we do things like this, setting a record, it’s definitely nice. We enjoy playing together. It’s special.”
On when he knew they set record
“We knew last time that we did it they told us we were one away from breaking it. We knew in the back of our minds but it’s obviously not something in the forefront.”
