Braves quotes after 2-0 loss to Rays on Tuesday at Tropicana Field
**FREDI GONZALEZ
On Williams Perez’ start
“One pitch. I looked at it real quick on the video board and it looked like it was a changeup out over a little bit, down. He went down and got it, and that was it. But he pitched real good. Can’t complain, really. We swung the bats well, hit some balls at people. We couldn’t capitalize. (Erasmo) Ramirez pitched well, also. He changed speeds a little bit with all his stuff. He’s got 93, 94 mph in his arm, too. It’s a shame you have to lose this game because it was well played, both sides.”
On if there are positives for Perez
“For him to go out there and in the eighth inning and get through that top of the lineup for the fourth time, that’s a big step.”
On if thought there would be runs scored after four hits in first two innings
“The first two guys get on, (Cameron) Maybin and Nicky (Markakis). They make the nice play on the relay throw to home plate and cur Maybin down. Really that’s pretty much all we got the rest of the way. I know we hit the ball hard. Simmons also decapitates (Evan) Longoria, I don’t even know how he keeps that ball in front of him. It was just a good, well-played ball game. We hit the ball hard and they caught it, and they hit one ball out of the ballpark and they win the ballgame. There’s not much you can say about that one.”
On if you send Maybin home in same situation again
“Oh, absolutely. I know we are in the big leagues, but it’s so hard to relay the ball and have a clean play from the right fielder to the second baseman and then the second baseman to the plate, and then have the catcher put a tag on a speedy runner. That’s what they did today.”
On Michael Bourn hitting the ball hard but not getting results
“He shouldn’t change a thing. That’s what we keep telling him when he comes back, Don’t change a thing. He pinch hit on Sunday and drove the ball straightaway center. Today he hit three balls right on the button. If he keeps swinging the bat like that, they will start falling.”
On his argument on Eury Perez being called out at first in the fifth inning
“It’s one of the worst baseball rules in the rule book. You understand about the 45-foot lane and the runner has got to stay in the box there. But the closer you get to the bag you’ve got to touch the base. Its’ impossible (not to) unless you play the girls’ softball that has got those double bases. I thought he was close to the bag for him not to be able to call that. That was my argument. But that is one of the worst rules. It’s almost impossible for the runner to stay on the outside.”
On the changes since the trades for Nick Swisher and Bourn
They are two good players. Michael Bourn has been a great addition for us. Swish is not there yet. Here’s a guy he just finished a rehab assignment. You are starting to see some good swings at times. We’ve got to be patient with him and make sure we get him some at-bats because he is going to help us down the road.
**MICHAEL BOURN
On hitting the ball hard but not getting results
“You know how that goes. What are you going to do but keep swinging? That’s all I can really do. You can’t really direct where the ball goes when you hit. You just hit it and it goes where it goes. Unfortunately right now it’s been going right at people. I’m just going to stay with my same approach and try not to change nothing. Hopefully they find some holes and some ground out there.”
On Erasmo Ramirez
“I felt like we hit the ball pretty good, actually. He dodged a couple bullets but he threw the ball good, as well. I never like to take nothing away from a pitcher if they end up shutting us out. He was real efficient. He was throwing lot of strikes. We hit some balls hard, he threw some good pitches as well. It was a combination of both tonight.”
On Williams Perez
“I think he did real well. If we could have scratched a couple runs across, it could help him relax and he doesn’t have to be as fine. They hit one good pitch out. It was really a pitchers’ duel. They ended up winning this one so we’ll come back tomorrow and try to get the split.”
**WILLIAMS PEREZ (translation by coach Eddie Perez.)
On the home run by Kevin Kiermaier
“It was a bad pitch because I threw it before and (Kiermaier) didn’t swing good so I guess he was waiting for that one. It was bad location.”
On if he can take some positives from the start
“It was a tough loss but I feel really good that I went eight innings for the first time this year.”
On what was better after last two starts
That’s the best start since I got hurt. I felt really good today.”
On if this helps his confidence after two previous bad starts
“The first two starts were very tough. I felt very strong for this start today. When I left the field for those two I didn’t feel good but I feel really good about these two starts.”
