The Braves dropped a 14-inning affair to the Nationals on Saturday, 5-3.
Manager Brian Snitker opted for Miguel Socolovich in the 14th, and the Nationals took advantage, scoring a pair of runs to pull within a half game of first place.
Here’s what the Braves said afterwards:
Manager Brian Snitker:
On Jesse Biddle’s three innings and eight strikeouts in relief:
“That was really good. He gave us a chance. He kept putting us in the dugout with a chance to win. That’s all you can ask for.”
On pitching Socolovich over Arodys Vizcaino and Dan Winkler:
“I’m staying away from Viz and Wink all day today. Just giving them a day. That’s looking ahead. That’s where they’d been warming up, was hot yesterday. Winkler had a tough inning the day before. We were going to stay away from both of them regardless today.”
On Brandon McCarthy’s start:
“He did really good too. Great job. Just that one pitch (a home run by Michael Taylor). We had a lot of opportunities. Those guys did a great job getting us in the dugout and giving us a chance to win.”
On Johan Camargo’s home run:
“He got a change-up ahead in the count there and it was a big hit.”
On Freddie Freeman’s wrist after the first baseman appeared to be shaking it early in the game:
“I talked to him and he said he was fine.”
Reliever Jesse Biddle:
On getting swings and misses:
“It got there. It took a little bit. That first inning there, I was just glad to get out of it and give my team a chance. But once it settled down, we were able to make some pitches and execute.”
On surviving his first inning, a bases-loaded jam:
“I was frustrated. I wasn’t trying to walk guys. … But using your frustration to execute pitches is probably the difference. So I was able to make a couple pitches to the lefty who came up and we were able to get out of it.”
Starter Brandon McCarthy:
On how he felt after sixth inning:
“Tired. There might’ve been a little more in there but humidity really does something to me. It’s a grind for me to get through it more so than other guys maybe. I came out there, especially after hitting in the fifth, then going right up in the sixth. A lot of quick innings. Gio (Gonzalez) was working really fast. You just start to lose your breath. Fortunately I was executing well. If I go back out I feel like I could’ve done well. But outside of that I don’t think it’s the wrong call there to take me out.”
On Snitker’s decision to save Vizcaino and Winkler:
“I’m more of the mind to win games that are there to be won. Win game 6 before game 7. But my job isn’t to look at the larger picture of this. I’ve been here with a history with those guys and knowing how to face them. So I’m looking at it with the amateur status. He’s sitting there, he sees all the data, he knows where guys are and what they’re doing. I trust his opinion on that over me just guessing.”
