Braves quotes after Friday’s win against Cincy

Braves quotes from Justin Upton, Ervin Santana and manager Fredi Gonzalez after Friday’s 5-4 win against the Reds.

**FREDI GONZALEZ

On whether he was glad he didn’t have to argue the last play

“Yeah. I didn’t know until I saw the replay on the board and I felt kind of relieved but you just never know how they’re going to come out from under the headset. We’ve seen plays that they had a better angle, they had another feed, but from the feeds that I saw on the board he was clearly out and Freeman did a terrific job staying on the bag there. And talking about Freeman, he’s starting to swing the bat again, so that’s good. We go out and get five runs early. And in the pit of your stomach, you’re going ‘man, this is a good hitting club and we got some opportunities and we haven’t added on after I think the third. And sure enough we got first and second, nobody out there in the ninth inning with the tying run at second.”

On seeing Freeman make game-saving plays like that

“Constantly. This guy the Reds guy have gotten some accolades defensively but I’ll put Freeman up there with him defensively. He doesn’t get as much credit as he deserves.”

On Kimbrel not throwing anymore pitches to stay warm, glad he stopped?

“I think everybody became a fan there in the ninth inning, it all turned around and watched the jumbotron to see where that play was. I saw the outfielders coming in after they saw it the first time. They said game over. I’m going to look back tomorrow and see where Bernadina was because all of a sudden if (Votto) is safe, I think Bernadina scores there on that play. But we don’t have to deal with it and they got the play right, and that’s why replay is there for those plays. There’s nothing else you could do.”

On Santana cruising through first five innings

“He was and he gave up a couple runs here and there to a good club that hits. I think sometimes we expect a 0.40 ERA or whatever, and he gives up a couple runs or whatever, but I think we’ll keep him around for at least another start.”

On Freeman’s stretch and Heyward’s throw to the plate

“In the first inning it’s first and third, one out, and we get out of it on no runs with a great play, with a great throw to the plate from Heyward and a great tag play from Gattis and we get out of the inning with no runs. And Justin comes up the very next inning, hits a three-run homer, gets us on the board.”

See progress from B.J. with the glasses tonight?

“I thought he hit a couple. The first one I thought he rolled over, it looked like he was going to make the turn, thinking it was a double and it was closer than it should have been at first. But then the next one he hit it right on the nose which is a good at-bat.”

On Justin providing an early cushion

“We’ve seen him do this stuff, carry us for a while, so hopefully we keep seeing good stuff out of him.”

**ERVIN SANTANA

On his performance

“I didn’t have my best stuff today, but I still competed and we got the win. That’s the important thing.”

On the big early lead

“That’s huge. Every time we score first, we’ve got more of a chance to win.”

On quick innings

“That’s how I pitch every time. Just trying to make quick outs and get in the dugout as fast as I can.”

Gattis called you a “ball of competitive fire,” is that accurate?

“Little bit.” (smiles)

“Every time I take the mound I like to compete, I don’t like to lose.”

On where he was at the of the game

“I was in the clubhouse watching the game, so I was very…” (Chris Johnson in next locker over interjected, “Nervous.”)

“A little bit,” Santana said, laughing at Johnson. “Because you never know if they’ll change the call.”

You say didn’t have your best stuff, did you feel it improving in third, fourth or so innings?

“A little bit. I didn’t have my off-speed location very good until the third inning. After that I put everything together and got quick outs.”

On Heyward’s throw

“You know, Gold Glove. That’s why he’s a Gold Glover.”

**JUSTIN UPTON

On his 3-run homer in first inning

“It’s always nice to jump out ahead and give your pitcher a cushion, let him get comfortable.”

On things getting a little tighter than anticipated in late innings

“You don’t want your guys to give up runs, but we played a solid game tonight and we came out on top.”

What did you see on the home-run ball

“Just an off-speed pitch that hung up in the zone. I was able to get the barrel to it.”

On his brother’s glasses

“It’s a good look for him.” (smiles)

On the work of Santana

“He’s gone out and thrown the ball great for us. He was pounding the zone. He’s done a good job mixing his pitches up, and that’s all we can ask for. He gives a solid outing every time out.”

On the bullpen, this lately more like the ‘pen you saw last year?

“Yeah, they’ve done a great job, come in the game and gotten big outs when we needed them. We call them our backbone, and they’ve done that as of late.”