**FREDI GONZALEZ**
Any update on Mike Minor’s status
No. He’s going to get worked up, evaluated by our doctors. We will let you know when we get more information.
On if Minor’s problems developed during the first inning
It was during the bullpen session, he got a little stiff. He wanted to take a shot at it and see if he could get it to loosen up. He’s had a little bit of history of that. He’s been fighting it a little bit. We didn’t want to push it further than that. He saw the doctor here. We will run some further tests on it. We will see what happens here in the next couple days.
On if he’s happy with what he got from bullpen over eight innings
Absolutely, to cover eight innings. (David) Hale gave up the two-run homer in the second and that was it. Carp (David Carpenter) gave up a solo homer. They gave us a chance. We swung the bats really, really well. That’s nothing more than maybe a little morale boost. Justin (Upton) hit two balls right on the screws with people on base. I thought the one in the eighth inning was going to get through. Even the one at the end with (Ryan) Doumit but (Lucas) Duda made a good play on that. I thought we had good at-bats up and down the lineup but the first column is the one you worry about, the runs.
On Emilio Bonifacio playing well in his start
He really did. He had some putty good matchups against(Jonathan) Niese and he got on base. He got on base. He got us some energy. He did his job.
On if he believes his players are still mentally in it
Yeah, there is no question. You see the base running. You see (Bonifacio) go to third (on a pitch in the dirt). You see the good at-bats. You see the good defensive play by (Andrelton) Simmons. As long as you see those kind of things, you don’t worry about the effect of losing or the effect of not scoring runs. You’ve just got to keep battling.
**FREDDIE FREEMAN**
On the lack of offense
Same story, just a different day. It’s hard to win ballgames when you only score two runs. That’s the name of the game for us the last few weeks. Hats off to our bullpen. They had to pitch eight innings tonight and they pitched great. B.J. (Upton) hit the ball hard, Justin (Upton) hit the ball hard, Ryan (Doumit) hit the ball hard. We hit the ball hard all night. It’s just one of those weeks, months, year. Nothing is falling our way.
On having some bad luck tonight
We’ve done that a few times. Justin lining out in the first inning with a guy in scoring position. B.J. lines out. It’s just kind of getting repetitive. It’s almost like you kind of expect people to line out in those situations. You’ve just got to keep going up there and grinding it out. Obviously we are running down to the end but you’ve still got to grind it out until the season is over.
On Mike Minor leaving early
It’s unfortunate. Let’s just hope he’s OK. Hopefully it’s nothing serious. If that’s his last start of the season, get some rest and hopefully he’s not seriously hurt and he can be ready for spring training.
On if this year is more frustrating than 2011
I think 2011 was more frustrating. We had like a nine-game lead and we lost that one. We just haven’t been able to score runs all year. It’s not as frustrating but it’s obviously frustrating not to be able to score runs.
**MIKE MINOR**
On if he knew something was wrong early
I could tell in warmups. But I thought maybe it would get a little bit better as I threw my bullpen or even in the first inning and you get that extra adrenalin and it kind of goes away. Tonight it didn’t. Every pitch I could feel something. When I came in, they pretty much said, That’s it.
On if it’s similar to the pain he felt in February
Same thing. It’s kind of frustrating because I feel like it’s not anything serious but it’s nagging pain that won’t go away. It’s there every pitch. The last couple starts I felt it a little bit more and more and tonight worse than others.
On if he made the decision to stop or the medical staff
Kind of both. They asked how are you feeling, I kind of didn’t really give them a response. They said, ‘Is it worth it?’ and I said probably not. One, because I didn’t feel I could compete with the stuff I had tonight and with it being the first inning and a starter is supposed to go six. If I can’t go one without feeling OK, I probably shouldn’t be out there.
On if he will make his next scheduled start
I’m not sure yet. Hopefully but I don’t know. We will have to see how it feels in the next couple days.
On if his shoulder was bothering him during his rough stretch this season
No, I wouldn’t say every time. There was some times it was barking a little bit but I can’t write that off as all year long it hurting every game. I can’t really say that. Maybe some starts but not every single one.
On if this is a frustrating season for him
It’s very frustrating. But I guess on the positive side it’s hopefully nothing and I can get it taken care of this off season and I won’t go into spring training behind like I did this year.
