Morning Chop: Braves 7/14
Jul 13, 2013; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Braves right fielder Joey Terdoslavich (25) celebrates with left fielder Jose Constanza (13) after scoring a run in the fifth inning against the Cincinnati Reds at Turner Field. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Shirey-USA TODAY Sports
Depleted Braves top Reds behind strong Minor
With Heyward and Uptons out, replacement outfielders come up big
ATLANTA — For just the second time in 94 games this season, the Braves turned in a starting lineup without Jason Heyward, B.J. Upton or Justin Upton roaming the outfield. Their replacements filled the void and then some on Saturday afternoon, finding gaps in the Cincinnati infield with their bats and defying outside expectations with three critical manufactured runs.
Outfielders Joey Terdoslavich, Jose Constanza and Reed Johnson combined to go 7-for-11 at the plate, and Mike Minor atoned for a shaky beginning to his start with the go-ahead two-run double as the Braves grinded out a 5-2 win over the Reds on Saturday afternoon at Turner Field.
Braves quotes after Saturday’s win against Reds
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FREDI GONZALEZ
On Constanza going 3-for-4 in leadoff spot
"The last couple of years, every time we’ve brought him up during certain situations in the course of the year, he’s kind of energized us. He gets on base, he bunted for a base hit, he did a nice job (hitting behind) the runner going to third. He’s a guy that we wanted a little spark, and he brought that."
On getting seven hits from the fill-in outfielders
"The Skipper (Bobby Cox) used to tell me, in this game you never know when you’re going to win a game and when you’re going to lose a game. You just never know. I think Vegas lost a lot of money today if they saw our lineup and the guys we ran out there. But you can’t judge and handicap heart and putting the ball in play. That’s a good trait some of these guys have. They got an opportunity to play. Reed Johnson, and Terdo in his first start in the major leagues. They did a nice job."
DAN UGGLA
On seven hits from the backup outfield trio
"That just shows you how deep we are. Everybody has seen what Constanza can do. Everybody knows what a pro Reeder is. People are going to find out real quick how good a hitter Terdoslavich is. They did a great job."
JOSE CONSTANZA
On contributing three hits in his first day back with the team
"That’s part of my game, make contact, put the ball in play. Try to help the team win games."
With everyone lamenting loss of the starting outfielders, you determined to show what you could do?
"I feel bad for them, being hurt. That’s not a good way to get called up. I was just ready to come up here and help the team win."
REED JOHNSON
On three outfield fill-ins getting seven of team’s 11 hits
"That was good. Anytime something like that happens – and it’s bound to happen throughout the year; you’re playing so many games, you’re going to have to go through some spurts without your big boys, and we were able to step up and do a pretty good job today. At the same time, we realize we need those guys back for the long haul, and it looks like all three of them have some kind of minor things going on, so hopefully with the All-Star break and a few days off it’ll help them out quite a bit."
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Heyward, Uptons won’t return before All-Star break
ATLANTA — While Jason Heyward, B.J. Upton and Justin Upton won’t see the field until after the All-Star break, some encouraging initial reports on Saturday morning indicated that the Braves could have at least one member of their ailing Opening Day outfield back in the lineup by the time the team opens its first series after the break in Chicago on Friday.