—Quotes compiled by Michael Cunningham and Matthew Bain
**FREDI GONZALEZ
On Julio Teheran’s performance
Very good performance. I thought (Ryan) Lavarnway’s double there—I thought he did a nice job catching. You don’t even notice him back there, which is a nice thing for the catcher. He frames the ball well. He handled (Teheran) really well. Julio made an adjustment from last time against lefties. I know they only had two of them but they are good ones, (Curtis) Granderson and (Lucas) Duda, to deal with. I thought overall a great home standto go 4-1 with the Red Sox and then the Mets in front of us (in the NL East). We played good baseball. Solid baseball, fundamentally sound, pitching was outstanding and we had timely hitting. (Pedro) Ciriaco keeps coming off the bench and making things happen.
On the decision to pinch hit for Teheran
I told Carlos (Tosca) before the at-bat, I said he’s going to hit a double here and make me make a decision. That’s just the baseball gods. I think with (Matt) Harvey at 111-plus pitches, you’ve got Ciriaco on the bench, you’ve got (Lavarnway) in scoring position. I know for sure if it was a man on first base, I would have let Julio hit. But once we get into scoring position, we’ve got to take a shot at it. And we did and Pete made me look good. That was the reasoning behind all of that.
On the catch by Cameron Maybin in center field in the second inning and Eury Perez at the wall in the third
Maybin, sometimes we talk about him offensively but he can do some things defensively. And Perez, we know he can play—he’s probably, after Maybin, he’s a natural center fielder. But he’s getting an opport8nity to play a little and he’s doing a nice job. He’s swinging the bat, got another hit today, playing good defense. Those two plays are big.
On if Perez’s speed is deceptive
He’s faster than what he looks like. He’s a guy you can do some things with.
On the bullpen
(Nick) Masset got those two right-handers and then he hangs a breaking ball to the next guy (Eric Campbell). We bring in (Dana) Eveland to face the next guy to face (Darrell) Cecilliani and they counter with (John) Mayberry, which that is not an easy at-bat to watch because Mayberry is a guy that really wears out let-handed pitching. I told him just be careful, we’ve got a base open, youv’e got Granderson on deck and before I sit down he’s got strike one. You’ve got two guys that can Ryan behind the plate and Dana who knows how to maneuver the baseball a little bit and keep it away from Mayberry in that situation. Having the luxury of J.J. (Jim Johnson), where we take care of Jason Grilli a little bit at his age and trying to get him through the whole season and be a big factor for us, it’s nice to have the luxury of J.J. closing.
On if Lavarnway was running all the way on Ciriaco’s single because Juan Lagares has a hurt elbow
I think even if Lagares is healthy you’ve got to send him there. In the bottom of the seventh inning, two outs, I think you’ve got to send him. But we knew there was documented in social media in regular media his elbow is hanging. He still made a pretty good strong throw he was just up (the line).
On Julio Teheran’s effectiveness at lower velocity than two years ago
You know, it’s a lot of innings and some guys naturally their velocity goes down. Today I thought he maintained it. For him, it’s location and command, especially against left-handers.
**RYAN LAVARNWAY
On if he knew coach Bo Porter would send him home on Ciriaco’s single in seventh
He told me during the pitcher’s meeting that they (the Mets) took, I’m pretty much going to send you on anything. I was running as hard as I could right from the get-go.
On Julio Teheran’s effectiveness
He really brought all four pitches to the yard today. He was terrific. He was locating his fastball. His slider was good on both sides of the plate. He was really pitch-efficient, too. He could have easily finished that game if we hadn’t needed to have a hitter in the nine hole.
On Matt Harvey
He’s one of the best pitches in this league right now. A lot of credit to him for the things he’s done but credit to our guys as well for grinding out at-bats, running his pitch count up and getting the win.
On if he can laugh about just missing home run after the win
Everyone is like, the weight room is right over there. I hit it with a little topspin on it but I scored a run and that’s all that matters.
**PEDRO CIRIACO
On making it look easy with key hits
Nothing in this game is easy. I’m just trying to compete. I got a good pitch and I tried to make good contact. Trying to be relaxed and trying to see good pitch and try to put a good swing. I don’t try to do too much because when you put pressure on yourself, it’s not good. “
On his comfort level
Every hitter when he feels good at the plate, you know we’ve got confidence. Right now I feel good at the plate. I’ve been working with the hitting coach and I have a good plan and not trying to do much. Just see a good pitch and hit it hard.
On winning the game for Julio Teheran
He was great tonight. He was pitching pretty good game and to do it for the team and do it for him, it’s pretty special.
