DENVER — Braves quotes from Gavin Floyd, Chris Johnson, Luis Avilan and manager Fredi Gonzalez after Monday night's win against the Rockies.
**FREDI GONZALEZ
On Floyd’s first Braves win
“Gavin gave us a terrific opportunity to win the game, and we got it. He’s been pitching so well, I thought (he had won some games). He asked for the lineup cards and I said, what do you need the lineup cards for? He said, ‘It’s my first Braves win.’ I thought he was 3-0 or 4-0 before tonight, that’s how good he’s pitched. And I think it’s his first win in two years. Good for him. And then we added on (a run), which is always nice late in the game.”
On Chris Johnson having a big game after long slump
“Yeah, he got an RBI single yesterday and then got a couple today, so that’s good. That’s a good sign.”
On Shae Simmons’ perfect eighth inning, striking out Tulowitzki to end it
“He’s only been with us for a week or two weeks, so you don’t know what kind of kid he is. But it seems like these situations don’t rattle him. Coming to Coors Field to face two of the established premier hitters in the major leagues, and get them both out. That was probably the cleanest inning we had all night.”
On Avilan getting the big comebacker from Blackmon with 2 in scoring position to end seventh
“Yeah, we brought in Avi to face Wheeler and they burned him to use Barnes. Yeah, that was a big out there (against Blackmon), that let us get the ball to Simmons (in the next inning).”
On getting through the seventh, a sign of relief after so many troubles in that inning lately?
“Well, we almost didn’t (get through with lead intact). But you know what, we’ll get it fixed. That’s my job and Roger’s, with his help. We’ll get it. We’ll bridge it somehow.”
On low-scoring game at Coors
“Last time when we came in we had a couple of low-scoring games. When you pitch and you get ahead of the hitters, it doesn’t matter where you pitch, you’re going to have low-scoring games.”
On Floyd turning ankle on pickoff throw in fourth
“I thought we lost him there early in the game when he made the pickoff throw to first base and got his cleats stuck. But he’s a tough cookie.”
**GAVIN FLOYD
On asking Fredi G for lineup card and manager’s response
“He was like, ‘Really?’ I’m like, yes, my first Braves win. I told him I wanted to keep it as a memory.”
How good does it feel to get a win after so long?
“Yeah, especially after a full year off and coming back (from elbow surgery). Just thankful to get my first one and hopefully roll with it.”
You’ve been pleased with your progress and performance, but still nice to get a first win?
“Yeah, absolutely. The goal of this game is to win, and when you can be a part of a win, it’s exciting. You feed off of it. Even though I knew I felt good and I felt like I’ve been pitching real well, it’s nice to have that first one.”
On being aggressive the way he’d hoped to be here at Coors
“Yeah, I felt like Gattis called a great game, and good defense. We mixed up all my pitches and kept them off balance. I felt like we had a good plan going into it and I was able to execute a lot of pitches.”
No problem after turning your ankle?
“It was a little sore, but it wasn’t real bad. I just kind of … I tried to do a quick move and my foot didn’t get out of the ground. I pushed off of it and it just rolled. So I was kind of walking around trying to make sure it was OK. During the game you’re trying to keep it loose because swelling could probably creep in and kind of make it stiff. So I just tried to keep it moving.”
Iced it?
“After the game I iced it. But during the game I just tried to keep it moving.”
Confident after pitching well in your one previous start at Coors?
“I don’t think about that at all, because different lineup, different day. You can’t take those things for granted. You have to make pitches and get after them, try to keep them off balance and try to get outs. Any time you take that lightly … I don’t want to take that lightly. I take each start as a fight, and I have to go out there and try to get outs.”
On asking for the lineup card, what it means
“It’s a new chapter with this team, and it’s exciting to me.”
**CHRIS JOHNSON
On having a couple of RBI singles
“Yeah, usually I’m pretty good at that, so it’s nice to get back and kind of get back in that big part of the field and stay up the middle and have my bat be short to the ball. So that was nice, and it was good to give Gavin a cushion because that was all he needed.”
On helping Floyd get his first win
“It’s awesome for us. Our offense is probably a little more excited than he is. Because he’s been throwing great for us; all of our guys have been throwing great for us. It’s nice to get him a win.”
On Shae Simmons
“He looks good. He’s a stud. He’s got good stuff, man. He throws hard, and the good thing about him is, he’s not afraid to go after anybody. Tulo, in my opinion, is one of the best players in baseball, and he went right after him. That was pretty cool to watch.”
**LUIS AVILAN
On getting Blackmon on inning-ending comebacker with 2 in scoring position after PH Barnes bounced a double up middle
“I was trying to pitch the righty (Barnes), especially with the lefty coming up. It surprised me when (Barnes) swung at that ball, because I’m not going to throw him anything around the plate. He got that base hit and I was like, ‘OK, I’ve got the lefty’ (Blackmon).”
Blackmon’s been really good this year
“Yeah, but it’s still a lefty. I’d rather face the best lefty in the league than face a righty.”
On Shae Simmons’ perfect eighth, striking out Tulo for third out
“Oh, yeah, he’s impressive. He’s been really good. He’s going to be really good for us.”
