Braves quotes after 8-4 loss to Pirates on Saturday at PNC Park.
FREDI GONZALEZ
On Julio Teheran recovering after bad first inning
Yeah, I think after that first inning he retired 17 batters of the next 22. After he hit (Andrew) McCutchen, I don’t know if that rattled him a little bit. They ended up scoring a big number. We got within two runs and instead of getting a shut down they scored (two runs) and got us out of striking distance. We’ve got to minimize those big innings with Julio. That seems to be the thing that gets him every time. We need to sit down with the brain trust, with Roger (McDowell) and myself and figure out how we get him through those innings where he doesn’t give up five runs or four runs. It seems like it’s either early in the game or late in the game where he gets there. We’ve got to figure it out. This young man last year was an All-Star and he’s got plenty of stuff to get people out with.
On if he saw any of the changes Teheran has made
Today, it was just that first inning. You saw the guy that last start went seven innings in 90 pitches and gave us an opportunity to win. After the first inning (today) you saw that same guy. There is something there we’ve got to fix collectively. And I put Julio in there, he’s got a big voice in this. We’ve got sit down when he throws his side on Tuesday and figure out what he’s got to addressed.
On Jace Peterson’s three-run double before Pirates scored two more runs
You get a bases-clearing double and you get back in striking distance. If you notice, we switched pitchers in the bullpen. We thought (Nick) Masset could keep us right there. And then the Pirates battled back and got (two) and we couldn’t come back from that.
On what Peterson’s doubles can do for him with recent struggles
This game is about confidence. Believe it or not, these guys lose it at-bat to at-bat. They can be 14-for-14 and then they go 0-for-1 and they panic. Here is a young guy that doesn’t let anything affect him. He plays the game the right way. Hopefully this will catapult him into a nice streak.
JULIO TEHERAN
On if he settled in after first inning
It was a tough first inning. When you give up five runs in the first inning all you are just trying to stay in the game (from there).
On frequently getting hurt by one big inning this season
Like everybody knows, it’s just one inning I get in trouble and they score all the runs. Trying to battle and trying to find a way to pitch better.
On if hitting McCutchen with a pitch shake him up
No, not really. I was just trying to get in there (inside) and I know you can’t make a mistake with a hitter like that. I didn’t know my two-seamer was moving that much. That was the first one I threw in the game. I feel bad that I hit him. But it’s part of the game. You don’t want that to affect you.
On what changed after first inning
Just trying to slow everything down. I wasn’t able to do it in the first inning because I’m trying to make pitches.
On how frustrating this season has been
I’m just trying to keep my mind strong. That’s part of the game and sometimes you can’t control that. I’m trying to control that I can control. Every time I go out there I’m trying to give my best and even if I don’t have my best, I’m just trying to battle.
On adjustments against left-handed batters
That’s the most important thing I’ve been working on is left-handed hitters. I’ve been doing pretty good. Today I didn’t face that many left-handed hitters and the mistakes that I made in the first inning were against right-handers.
JACE PETERSON
On if he takes a positive from his three-run double in spite of the loss
I was able to come through with a hit but at the end of the day we lost. Hopefully we can come out tomorrow and get a win.
On if he saw Teheran make adjustments after the first inning
He was great. He made great pitches. It’s never easy to pitch when the weather is like that. To come back out and stay at it I think he did a great job. He’s been consistent the whole time.
On if the double can get him going after his slump
I think so. In Washington, I struggled. I hit some balls good and didn’t’ get hits. I’ve just got to keep going. That’s part of baseball. You have ups and downs but you’ve got to keep going.
On being 7-for-11 with bases loaded
When runners are on, you are trying to get them in. Any time you come up in that situation you try to put a little bit more grit to it, I guess, and try to get the job done.
