Quotes from Freddie Freeman, Paul Maholm, Jordan Schafer and manager Fredi Gonzalez following Monday's 13-5 victory over the Mets.
**FREDI GONZALEZ
On Freeman’s five RBIs in first two innings
“He gave us a couple of great at-bats. On a tough day to play, really. The first two innings almost took an hour. Both (starting pitchers) weren’t around the plate. He gave us great at-bats and put us on the board.
“Pauly (Maholm) probably didn’t have the best command he’s had, but he battled, stayed in the game, and ended up getting the W.”
On Schafer’s four hits, three steals
“He does a nice job. He can create some stuff on the basepaths with his legs, and also we’ve seen him throw people out defensively. He’s got a lot of tools there. We’ll check with him tomorrow, I think he just had a little back spasms there with his back, I don’t think it’s anything serious.”
On B.J. Upton
“He’s swinging the bat. Today had a nice multi-hit game with some RBIs. Those are good signs.”
On Maholm’s mechanics, seemed like they were coming around in last couple of starts before today
“I don’t know if it’s mechanics or just one of those days. But again, he battled. He never gave in. He gave up three runs and we got some add-on runs later in the game.”
Sometimes tough for a pitcher when such long breaks between innings like today?
“I don’t know. We’ve got to throw the ball over the plate, and we didn’t in the first four or five innings, and got away with it.”
Any update on Walden (groin strain)
“Same. Still waiting a little bit. He threw a bullpen today, about five pitches, and it wasn’t good. So we’re still waiting. Hopefully he can bounce back in another week or so, five days. I’m not sure where we’re at as far as (time).”
On Loe’s call-up and why he didn’t pitch today in blowout, when Avilan did
“We’re going to plan on starting – it was either Garcia or Loe starting on Wednesday. We’re going to give Teheran a breather, move him back to the 10th against Miami. That was one reason why Loe didn’t come in the game today. Garcia, obviously yesterday with Wood only giving us 2-1/3, for a short outing Garcia wasn’t available today. And he probably wouldn’t be available to start on Wednesday.
“Loe’s going to start in Teheran’s spot (Wednesday). And Garcia by that time can probably give us a couple of innings.”
Does that push back everyone, or just Teheran?
“Just Teheran. Everyone stays pretty much the same. With the off day I think everybody gets an extra day.
“We were trying to do it with Minor, if you remember, in that St. Louis series, then Beachy went down and we couldn’t do it. And it was going to be Teheran’s turn (to rest next), so we’re going to plug Loe in there.”
On what Loe’s done since sent back to Triple-A
“He’s been starting since we sent him down. He’s been good, been effective. Obvioiusly you won’t expect him to go out there and give you nine innings of shutout baseball, but if he can give us a good, solid outing, our guys could really use it right now.”
**PAUL MAHOLM
On high pitch count, 100 in five innings
“Obviously falling behind some guys, not making the pitches. Pace of the game wasn’t very good for either one of us. I think the biggest thing was the leadoff walk in the fourth when we were up 6-1. Sometimes you go out there and you’re not in rhythm, and you’ve just got to battle. Today was one of those days. Luckily the offense put up so many runs that my five-and-dive wasn’t a big deal. With yesterday (early exit by starter Alex Wood) I would’ve liked to take care of the bullpen with more than five innings. But like I said, the offense took care of it.”
The slow game
“I threw 20-some pitches in the first and was over 50 after the second. Normally I’m trying to get as close to 10 pitches an inning as I can. Obviously it wasn’t there today, as far as that goes. I’m sure it sucks as a position guy to sit back and try and deal with that, both ways. Both teams, it took forever. That’s not something I enjoy.”
**FREDDIE FREEMAN
On Dice-K and what he knew about him
“I’ve never faced him. I didn’t even watch video. I just went up there and put my foot down (and swung).”
“Basically against a guy you haven’t seen before, my approach is to be aggressive. It’s easier when there’s guys on base; he’s got to come after you, he doesn’t want to walk you to load up the bases. He was aggressive and I was able to capitalize on some mistakes.”
On length and pace of the game
“It was a long game, but we were able to get out to an early lead, so it makes it a little easier. We didn’t let off the throttle. We kept going, scoring some more runs, getting some more runs for our relief pitchers. Paul battled for five innings, and our bullpen shut it down the rest of the way.”
Good way to bounce back after losing 7-0 to the Marlins on Sunday?
“Definitely. You never want to get shut out, but when we do, when you come out here and score six in the first two innings, that kind of takes a little weight off your shoulders and you can just go out there and play the rest of the game.”
On B.J. Upton’s improvement in past week
“He’s been swinging the bat great. You could tell in BP last week that he was almost there. He was back-spinning balls to right-center. He was just on the verge of breaking out, and now here he goes. I think he seems to do very well in September, and he’s getting hot again. That’s just what we need, so hopefully he can carry that on.
**JORDAN SCHAFER
On his back spasm
“I felt it on the first swing (of his seventh-inning at-bat), and the same thing on the second swing. And when I tried to run there, initially I wanted to take off, like if I felt good I probably would have went to second. Just kind of tightened up on me. I’ve got a knot there right now. Nothing big, it just spasmed up on me.”
Think you’ll be back in there tomorrow?
“Yeah, it should be fine.”
Had that issue before?
“No. I don’t feel bad. Like I said, there’s a knot there and it kind of spasmed up on me, but it’s not a big thing.”
Big day for you though, huh?
“Yeah, it’s a little better. Just trying to get back to where I was before I got hurt. Good day for us all the way around.”
You like to take advantage when you have a chance to run against a pitcher like that?
“I mean, I’m not on the bases for decoration. When I get on there I’m trying to go. As fast as I can. I’m not trying to wait around and stand there, I’m trying to take off.”
