Braves postgame quotes after Tuesday’s win

JULIO TEHERAN

On how he felt after lay-off:

“The first inning I was feeling a little bit weird after having the long rest. But at the same time, I felt fresh and my arm was feeling good, just one bad inning. One bad inning that I was trying to pound the zone and they were swinging.”

On if felt stronger:

“I was feeling good at the beginning. After that inning I was trying to do the same thing that I’ve been doing, trying to be aggressive with the hitters and show everything I have.”

On if felt rusty in first:

“I felt a little weird because I had a long rest. But I tried to pound the zone, throw strikes and make pitches.”

On Ayala vs. Stanton:

“That was awesome. I told him that I was going to take him to dinner after that because that was impressive.”

FREDI GONZALEZ

On Teheran settling down after hard-luck first:

“Yeah two bloop singles. Stanton hit the ball right down the line on him but other than that I thought he pitched well. Got us deep in the ballgame, just couldn’t get those last two outs in the seventh inning but he did a nice job. I think maybe the biggest out other than maybe the last out of the game, which is always the biggest when you when, was Luis Ayala facing Stanton with the bases loaded. It is the biggest out of the ballgame for us. It gave us a chance to win the ballgame. “

On if could tell extra days gave Julio a lift:

“I think so. I think any time you give those guys a breather, maybe you don’t see it the first start back, but I think you’ll see it the next couple starts and beyond. That’s what we want to do. We want to pitch these guys beyond the next couple starts.”

On what Ayala got Stanton with:

“It looked like a big sinker to me. Sometimes when you’re on the side you can’t tell if it’s a sinker or slider, but I just thought it was a big sinker but it had some depth to it.”

On Ayala overlooked, but pitching well:

“He has, ever since he’s gotten back from his DL stint at the beginning of the year he’s been pretty good. He’s been able to pitch multiple innings at times, come in and get a big out, get a groundball, been a little resilient with his arm. We’ve still got to take care of him but he’s gotten some big outs for us.”

On Teheran bouncing back from rough luck:

“The composure. He didn’t buckle. I think maybe last summer or two summers ago, that inning becomes an even bigger inning where he can’t bounce back but he was terrific. He really was. You would have liked for him to have gone seven but two-out walk to Coghlan and then the base hit to our nemesis, Lucas. You don’t practice that play in spring training. I think Ed might be upset he didn’t come north with us when we had him in spring training. You almost want to see Stanton come up to the plate than Ed Lucas at times. But anyway we got the win.”

On 27th out, fortunate bounce, but still have to make the play:

“You’ve still got to make the play. That’s not an easy play. (It’s) all the way to the backstop, he’s got to throw the ball to third base which you don’t practice that way, and then we did a hell of a job with the rundown. Made one thrown, Danny came in like he was supposed to and got the out.”

On getting guys on for Gattis and he’s getting them in:

“Yeah he’s getting some great opportunities and he’s not missing them.”

On Justin Upton:

“We’ll check again. It’s just a bruise. That’s always better than something that’s torn or anything. We’ll check with him tomorrow. I’m thinking just a day, maybe he’ll come in tomorrow and say ‘I feel good.’”

LUIS AYALA

On his approach vs. Stanton:

“I was just trying to throw a strike working on the corner, try to get a groundball, I don’t expect to make a strikeout.”

On look at it like ‘I’m a veteran, I’ve been in this situation before:’

“Yeah, many times. It happens sometimes. Sometimes the hitter beats you. Especially as a reliever, you try to throw strikes. Fortunately that’s what happened. And I have eight more players behind me on the field, so I tried to make a groundball, a flyball, whatever it is.”

On the pitch he got Stanton with:

“A sinker. It was a good pitch. I was working outside trying to get a groundball but he swung.”

EVAN GATTIS

On getting rolling again with early offense:

“Yeah definitely. It’s good to come out on top. I thought Julio pitched really well and gave us a chance to win the game and I’m glad we scored some runs.”

On finding groove after came back from Gwinnett:

“Yeah I think it’s just a reminder of how to go about it.”

On if feeling as comfortable as he has this season:

“Maybe, now or earlier in the year. I had a good little stretch there for a while. I just feel back to normal, I feel back to attack mode.”

On if Teheran showed him something after first inning:

“I always figured that’s kind of how he is, the kind of guy he is. He’s a good competitor. He’s out there to compete and that’s all you can ask anybody.”