Braves quotes from Freddie Freeman, Julio Teheran, Andrelton Simmons, Ian Thomas and manager Fredi Gonzalez after Sunday’s 1-0 win and sweep against Cincinnati.
**FREDDIE FREEMAN
On the pitching duel
“Julio went out there and battled and we were able to get to their bullpen before they got to ours.”
On the at-bat vs. Parra
“I saw heater, heater. I saw him pretty good yesterday. He threw a first-pitch slider that I saw then he threw heater-heater yesterday, so I was feeling pretty good going into that at-bat.”
On relishing the game-on-the-line situation
“I like those opportunities. Being in the middle of the lineup, you like the RBI opportunities and definitely at the end of the game. And I definitely saw that weather coming and wanted to get out of here. It’s definitely one of those situations, you want that moment.”
On two-out hits by Heyward, B. Upton setting up the walk-off hit
“Heyward did a great job getting that line drive up the middle and B.J. put it on the perfect place for Hoover not to get there. It’s one of those situations where if they didn’t do that, I wouldn’t have had that chance.”
On his roller roaster ride this week
“It’s been an up and down, but you’re going to have those during a season and at least it ended on a high going into the off day. And now I have another day to let my eyes heal a little bit more. Being able to play in the dome the next three days definitely will help and hopefully I can keep that roller roaster going on a high note.”
On lead expanding over other teams
“I haven’t even noticed. I don’t really look at the standings in April. You just want to go out there and win ballgames and series and that’s what we’ve been doing lately so we’re in a pretty good spot right now.”
**JULIO TEHERAN
On facing Cueto
“It was real emotional for me. I knew I was facing one of the top-rated guys in the game right now. I tried to be focused and do my job, too. I was locked in, trying to do my job. I knew the first team that scored was the one that was going to win.”
Do you feel like you’re one of those elite pitchers now, that you’ve arrived?
“Now I feel like one of those guys.”
More on facing Cueto, matching him zero for zero
“I was real emotional. I was excited. I was trying to do the same thing that I’ve been doing, trying to get complete games every time.”
On working out of jams
“When I got in those situations, that’s when I try to make better pitches, concentrate a little more and just try to be tougher.”
And not panic?
“No, I don’t get panicked at all.”
**ANDRELTON SIMMONS
On Teheran
“I know how good he can be. He’s proving to people that he deserves to be the ace for the team. He threw strikes today, threw great against a guy who was throwing really good, and they were head-to-head the whole time they were out there. That’s pretty impressive. What else can you ask?”
After throwing shutout against Cliff Lee in Philly
“Yeah, any time he knows he’s going up against a good pitcher, he steps up his game.”
**IAN THOMAS
On not pitching in a week
“Felt good enough, got it done.”
Feel good knowing Fredi and Roger trust you in situation like that?
“Absolutely. I want them to trust me. I want them to know they can call down and I’ll be ready to go. That’s all that matters. Trust is a big word.”
“All I can be is ready.”
**FREDI GONZALEZ
On the game, the pitchers’ duel with Teheran and Cueto
“Both of those guys pitched well. (Teheran) has hooked up against some big-game pitchers, established major league aces, and has gone pitch-for-pitch with them.”
“The last inning, Heyward and B.J. getting on base and getting to Freeman, who had a great at-bat against a left-hander there. It was nice to get the win, nice homestand, 5-1.”
On the starters’ continued excellence
“I’m not even looking at the (stats). Just going start to start, and I think they’re building from one to another and giving us a great opportunity to win ballgames. Now Tuesday Woody will go up against Fernandez (in Miami) and hopefully give us an opportunity again.”
Anyone you’d rather see up there than Freeman in that spot?
“No. I was thinking the same thing, there’s nobody else – at least in this ballpark – that you say, this guy is going to come up big here. He is swinging the bat well. But he doesn’t get in that position if Heyward doesn’t have a great at-bat and Freeman put the ball in play. All of a sudden you’ve got (runners on) first and second.”
On the bullpen
“The bullpen did a terrific job. We were talking early this morning, and even yesterday, about putting Thomas in a situation like that to see what he could do, to give us another lefty (other than Avilan for tough situations). And we brought him in first and second, two outs, against Bernadina in an extra-inning game, and he passed with flying colors. He gets his first major-league win, that’s nice to see also.”
On Thomas not pitching in a week
“I’ll probably get criticized for having the starters go too many innings. It’s always something, right?”
On pitching staff keeping you in games long enough for offense to eventually produce a run
“We’ve got a lot of guys up and down the lineup who can come up with big hits. Or you fall behind a couple of runs and you make a mistake and someone (in Braves lineup) can run you out of the ballpark and now you’re right back in the game. But we’re OK. I’d rather have it this way (with steady pitching, inconsistent offense) than the other way. Our bats will pick up sooner or later.”
On pitching plans, vis-à-vis Minor
“We’ll let you guys know something Tuesday or Wednesday.”
