Braves quotes after the 5-1 loss to the Reds on Thursday at Turner Field.
**FREDI GONZALEZ
On Shelby Miller
He gave up one run (in the sixth) and worked his way his way out of an unbelievable jam. For him to only give up one run in that situation, you have to tip your hat. That’s pitching and that’s pitching really, really well. Couple of solo home runs got him, and the way we’ve been swinging the bats we should’ve won that game. And we didn’t. (Mike) Leake pitched better and he pitched better because he didn’t give up many runs. But I thought Shelby Miller was outstanding today. If he goes out and gives you 28 to 30 more starts like that, he’s going to have a hell of a year.
On Reds starter Mike Leake
He threw strikes and he threw his breaking ball over, but I thought we weren’t as patient as we had been before. I think we swung on some pitches out of the strike zone and made contact. And then he beat us with the bat, which we knew. He’s a good athlete. He can swing the bat, field his position and go out there and give you eight solid innings of pitching.
On if he was surprised the Braves couldn’t do more against Leake
No, this guy’s a pretty good pitcher. I was a little surprised at some of our approaches, but this guy had his slider going one way and his sinker and his four-seamer going and he threw strikes. We had nothing hit hard all night.
On Chris Johnson leaving the game
We’re going to put him on the DL. It’s a fracture of the left hand. He’s going to go get some tests and find out more. With that move, we’re going to bring Foltynewicz up and he’s going to start for us tomorrow. We’ll leave the pitching as it is and go with the one less position player.
On Mike Foltynewicz getting called up
He’s earned the opportunity to come up and pitch. I hope he doesn’t think it’s a one-deal tryout and that he’s got to pitch extremely well or get sent down. I think we’re going to be patient with him, but I’m excited. He’s earned it. Hopefully he can rattle off the rest of the year.
**SHELBY MILLER
On how he felt tonight
I felt good. Overall, I felt great.
On allowing just one run in the sixth inning after the passed ball
We did a good job of getting out of that. It could’ve been a lot worse. I know passed balls and wild pitches and stuff like that are going to happen but I think we did a good job of getting out of some trouble there.
On if he’s pleased with his five starts so far
Personally, I feel like I’m pitching good. But we needed a win tonight, it’s that simple, and we didn’t get the job done. I can talk about myself and how I’m doing but that’s beside the point. We didn’t win tonight and that’s the biggest thing on my mind right now.
On the back-t0-back homers by Tucker Barnhart and Mike Leake in the seventh
Made two terrible pitches right down the middle. It’s terrible. We were in the ballgame at that point and give it away. It’s on me.
