Braves quotes after 5-2 loss to Phillies Monday at Turner Field.
**FREDI GONZALEZ
On Alex Wood
He didn’t have his command, in particular first time he faced (Jeff) Francoeur, ‘Frenchie.’ He just missed his spot and Jeff made him pay for it. All five runs came with two outs and they just kept adding on late. We got close a couple times and we just couldn’t put a crooked number up.
On Phillies starter Aaron Harang
That’s the way he pitches. He knows what he’s doing. We had him on the ropes a couple times and he wiggled out of it. Here’s a veteran guy who knows how to navigate through a major-league lineup. He knows where he can go get outs. He feeds off hitters’ aggressiveness and they expand the strike zone. We did that a couple times today.
On if it’s frustrating because Braves should know Harang
Some of these guys get some at-bats (against Harang) and we’ve got enough videos and we’ve got all kinds of stuff. We should know Harang. We should know Dan Uggla. We should know Jeff Francoeur. It seems like those guys in the last 10 days have done some damage against us.
On if he’s concerned about Wood
I’m not overly concerned but that’s not him. I’ve seen him rattle off start after start after start and get you deep into ballgames. Today it was 90 pitches in the fifth (inning). He hasn’t been able to get into some kind of rhythm.
**ALEX WOOD
On giving up three runs in first inning
It’s tough to do that, have that happen in the first inning. It just kind of takes a lot out of the guys right out of the gate. It’s hard to give up three in the first and then expect guys to come back.
On if he’s concerned that he’s not been sharp this season
It’s one of those things where the time is now. I’ve got to make an adjustment. It’s a humbling game to say the least. It’s one of those things where I have no doubt in my mind that I’m going to figure it out. It’s just a matter of when. I think it’s going to be sooner rather than later. It’s just a matter of making an adjustment, getting a good one under my belt and going from there.
On Aaron Harang
He knows what he’s doing out there. That’s why he’s been around for (14) years. He knows how to pitch. He’ s done it against us already once and he knows all of these guys. He did a good job.
On Francoeur still being a hitter who can make you pay
Yeah, for sure. The one in the first inning was the one mistake I wish I had back. I wish I had thrown a different pitch. After that, he was obviously pretty locked in tonight.
**AJ PIERZYNSKI
On Alex Wood
He’s up to 100 pitches in the fifth inning every game it seems like. We’ve got to find a way to get him deeper into the game—myself and Roger (McDowell) and (Christian Bethancourt) and everybody. After the first inning he settled down and threw the ball well but you are down 3-0 right away, not to put anything on him, but it’s tough with a young-ish team. It was just one of those innings where we fell behind and with Harang, the way he’s been throwing, it’s tough.
On Wood not going deep
A lot of foul balls, a lot of deep counts. A lot of 3-2 counts. It seems like everybody is 2-2 or 3-2. In that respect, it’s too many deep counts and not enough putting guys away early. He’s got good stuff, that’s not a question. He’s just not putting guys away right now.