Braves’ quotes after Thursday’s 12-4 win against Mets

What some Braves said after their 12-4 win against the Mets in a series opener Thursday night at SunTrust Park. Matt Wisler gave up two hits, one run and no walks with eight strikeouts in seven innings and Preston Tucker had two doubles and five RBIs for the Braves to raise his total to 18, tied with Bryce Harper for the National League RBI lead.

** MATT WISLER

On his performance:

“It was my first time starting since I had one start last year, so to get up there and throw like that, I felt really good. I think the last start in Triple-A was the best I felt in a couple of years, and tonight was just building off of that.”

“I felt good. I felt better as the game went on. My slider felt like I was throwing it stronger as the game went on. The seventh inning was probably some of the best sliders I’ve thrown in a long time.”

On hitters being late on his fastball and having a good breaking ball; doing anything different?

“Yeah, I worked with a guy in Atlanta this offseason on trying to stay back a little bit more. I think that kind of helped tonight, just staying back on the slider, staying back on the heater; it’s got a little more jump to it. My velo in spring training was down and now it’s back up to 94 (mph), which I’m happy to see. Just staying behind the ball a lot better, a little more closed so guys can’t see it.”

On getting called up to start on short notice:

“Once I saw that Anibal went down yesterday I was kind of wondering if I’d get the call, so we kind of waited kind of anxious, and then after the game (Wednesday) I got the call. I honestly felt kind of like my debut. It’s been a long time since I started up here, so I had a lot of nerves and jitters going into today. But as the game went on I got more and more comfortable again.”

On catcher Kurt Suzuki (homer, two doubles):

“He called a great game, I think we worked together very well. We had a good team win today, Freddie (Freeman) made that play on Jay Bruce, that saved me a run. Overall things went my way today and the team had a great win.”

On Preston Tucker and the offense:

“The whole team’s banging this year, it’s incredible what the offense is doing. You’ve got all these guys hitting close to .300 or way over .300, so it’s been impressive to watch so far.”

** PRESTON TUCKER

On Wisler’s emergency start:

“That was awesome. I hadn’t gotten a chance to see him pitch much lately but when he was with San Diego, I played him a lot in the Texas League and that’s pretty much what I remembered. He’s always attacking hitters, working quick, working efficiently, and it’s fun to play behind.”

To do what Wisler did on short notice against a first-place team that’s been swinging the bats, pretty impressive?

“Absolutely. Division opponent, team that’s playing really well right now. I think it’s nice to set that tone early in this series and I think it’s giving us confidence going into tomorrow night’s game.”

On scoring three runs in first inning against Matt Harvey and three more before he was out:

“It was awesome. When this team’s swinging it – obviously it starts with Ender, and when everyone’s swinging it’s fun to watch. I enjoy every second of it. We’ve got a tough matchup tomorrow (Noah Syndergaard), and I think we’ve got a good feeling going into that.”

On how good he feels at plate:

“It’s a game of averages and sometimes you hit some balls hard and you don’t get the outcome you won’t, so I think it’s nice to be able to have a little bit of a leash knowing I am going to be in the lineup a majority of the time and have a chance to, you know, fail, and also have a chance to succeed. Tonight was really big for me and I really enjoyed it.”

On how big it is personally to be able to play every day, not worry about getting yanked from lineup if have a bad game:

“Huge. Obviously it helps when we’re winning games. That’s the biggest thing. But again, a game of averages, you know you can hit the ball three times and not get a hit. I think really just keeping the same mindset and going up there trying to do damage and trying to get in plus-counts, I think it’s been helping me out so far.”

On hitters and pitchers stepping up and filling in with big contributions:

“I think it’s about opportunities. With a team like this we have so much depth that it doesn’t really matter who we have in the lineup, we expect them to produce and help us win games. Obviously I’ve tried to take advantage of the situation I’ve been put in. I know a lot of these guys have, too. I think everyone’s in a good spot right now, we’re winning games and having fun.”

**Manager BRIAN SNITKER

Did Wisler surpass your expectations?

“Yeah, that was the reports his last time out at Gwinnett, was that it was as good as they’d seen him. And probably that (Thursday) is the best I’ve seen him since I’ve been around him. He was just on the attack with all his pitches. Really good breaking ball, he was locating his fastball. He was as aggressive as I’ve ever seen him, I think. Just on the attack, pitching to get guys out. I really like what I saw.”

On Wisler being first Braves starter to go seven innings, and doing it with no walks, eight strikeouts:

“I know. Good for him. I mean, you can’t ever have enough of them, and it’s really good to see that he backed up a really good one last week in Gwinnett with that one. That’s a really good sign.”

On Tucker:

“He just keeps hitting. And those are big off a lefty, too.”

On Suzuki:

“Offensively he swung the bat great obviously, and I thought he did a great job with Wisler. The offense was really good and it was great to give (Wisler) that (lead) early. But that can work against you sometime and I thought he did a really good job with him, his game-calling and just keeping him going.”

On beating the Mets:

“They’re playing really well, they’re a really good team, so to do that and keep them off-balance like he did is really good.”

“It’s nice to get (a win), because they’re a really good team. And we kind of feel like we are too. Back at ‘em tomorrow.”

On Freeman getting couple hits, a sac fly and a great defensive play (diving stab of a line drive) after the wrist scare night before:

“He hit the ball really well. Good, didn’t show signs of any discomfort or anything like that…. Good to get him out (before the end of the game), he can get treatment and all that and be ready to go again tomorrow.”

On guys making most of opportunities:

“Everybody’s taking advantage of situations. Tucker’s not all spring and he’s carried it on here. Flaherty’s been just a really great addition. See Wis (Wisler) coming in. Zuke’s getting more of a lion’s share of the playing time now that Tyler’s down and Zuke had a really good spring and he’s just kind of continuing on with what he’s doing and it’s been really good.”