**FREDI GONZALEZ
On the six-run inning
“It happens that quickly, you make a mistake and we’ve got the firepower to put up a big number in a hurry.”
On the game
“Nice performance by our pitching staff, Minor kept us right there. His pitch count got a little high, that’s why we took him out. Nice to have Gearrin come in and give us and inning and a third, and then Varvaro picking up two innings late in the game.
“It was a good series. Always nice to get a winning series headed into the off day. Now we’ve got a big series ahead of us in Washington.”
On inning starting with Schafer’s speed
“He had a nice game for a guy who it’s taken nine games to put him in a game and get him at-bats. He did a nice job with his stolen base, with a bunt … he did a nice job, he really did.”
“Did they give him a hit on his last one? So he got four hits? Good for him. Most importantly, he got five at-bats. Because he got nine days without almost getting one. So it’s good.”
Gattis has shown why you made move to have him be primary catcher for now?
“Well, it’s not a quarterback controversy or anything. You’ve got to do it. He fits in that No. 4 hole until Freeman gets back or McCann gets back. And who knows then? Shoot, at the pace he’s going he may have 12 or 13 (home runs) in that four-hole. It’s just good for the club for him to hit in that four-hole. I’m glad it’s worked out.
“Friday when Teheran pitches and Laird catches I don’t know who’s going to hit fourth. Maybe Oso Blanco (Gattis) plays first for seven innings or something, I don’t know. Because it’s hard to take that bat out of the lineup.”
You serious? Would you play him at first?
“No, no. Hey, I’ve got two days to think about it. We’ll see. Probably not. But I’ve done crazier things….
“We’ve got a left-hander (for Washington on Friday)? We’ve got Detwiler going. Maybe we will. We’ll see. (Smiling.). You guys make sure you tune in.”
On good bench, team depth
“I’ve felt good about that the whole time, that my biggest challenge is if everything stays normal and nobody gets hurt – which we didn’t do right from the get-go with Freeman – that my challenge is going to be getting the other guys some at-bats. We’re going to have to run the B-bombers out there one of those Sunday day games or noon Wednesday games, just run the bench out there and get those guys some at-bats. Because our bench is pretty darn good. We’ve got some depth.”
On going to Washington on a six-game winning streak, importance of series
“It’s good to win, it’s good momentum. Go out and take a day off tomorrow, and go back to winning series. Win the first one and then win the series. But yeah, I think winning always is good, so it’s a good feeling. We’ll get on the big bird and go to D.C. and it’ll be exciting. They’re throwing three pretty good pitchers against us, so it’ll be a nice test for us offensively. We’ll see where we’re at.”
On staying ahead of Nationals, instead of chasing them like did last year
“It’s early, but yeah, you’d rather be the guy in front all the time.”
When told that Gattis’ homer landed in the pool at the Clevelander nightclub
“The line drive? I thought it was going to decapitate somebody.”
**JORDAN SCHAFER
On his four-hit game in first start of season
“It felt good just to get out there on the field and be able to play. Just trying to go out there and have fun and do the little things to help us win. Help us in any way possible.”
On starting the inning with a bunt and stolen base, then seeing Gattis and Francisco hit big homers
“I have to stay within myself. I can’t try to hit the ball off the 502 sign like Juan. Unless I’m hitting from second base, that’s not going to happen. I need to stay within myself and play my game, and running is a big part of that. I’m pretty decent at bunting, and when I get on obviously I need to take advantage and get in scoring position. Simmy (Simmons) did a good job there.”
On the Gattis and Francisco homers later in inning
“That’s real men hitting the baseball. That’s not little kids. Even in BP, the way the ball comes off their bat is unbelievable. You don’t see that very often.”
Francisco’s homer one of longest you’ve seen?
“That ball was crushed. I haven’t seen too many balls go that far.”
**EVAN GATTIS
Getting more comfortable catching at major league level?
“Yeah, maybe so. It’s just catching, it’s just competing, playing the game. But yeah, getting to know people’s tendencies, the strengths of different hitters and strengths of your pitchers – more importantly, strengths of your pitchers. Definitely the more time I spend around here, I keep learning.”
On playing more, back-to-back games, easier to play when do that?
“Yeah, I usually feel like I catch better later in the season. I mean, of course you’re tired and everything, but catching seems to come easier with the more repetitions. So I think you kind of get into a rhythm and get a better feel the more you do it.”
How about hitting? You think teams will get better feel for who you are?
“Yeah, I think so. It’s expected. That’s what their whole goal is, what our goal is against them. So yeah, I’m sure they’ll find holes and try to do different things.”
So you’ll have to make adjustments at some point?
“Yeah, but that’s the game. Making adjustments within the at-bat, too. They’re watching me take curveballs, so sometimes you have to look for it every once in a while.”
How much fun was that fifth inning?
“Very fun. Good. It’s a relief.”
Ever homer into a pool before?
“Never. Never hit a home run into a pool. Notch that one. Got another one.”
On Juan Francisco’s even longer homer
“Geez, he’s got some pop. He’s got amazing power, and it’s fun to watch.”
On Schafer’s game
“Great game. Awesome. Laying that bunt down, getting on, it was a zero-zero game at that point. Then stealing second right after that? It was key. It takes pressure off Minor (to bunt him over). We would’ve liked to have him on third base, but at least we got a runner in scoring position with one out. That’s awesome, in a zero-zero game. Being able to score first and at least get out there ahead, to get some kind of momentum.”
Looking forward to Washington series, excited?
“Of course.”
**MIKE MINOR
On coming out in sixth inning
“I don’t know, I think the bullpen needed some work. (Smiles.) No, I had a high pitch count. I was starting to struggle, so he felt that was a time to do it.”
On his performance
“It was OK. I felt like I threw a lot of pitches tonight that were not competitive. I didn’t have my curveball, my breaking ball. I threw a lot of fastballs and changeups. It was just one of those nights where I didn’t feel my greatest.
“I threw a lot of changeups because my curveball wasn’t there and my slider really wasn’t there, either. Me and Gattis would just come back to the changeup.”
On the lineup, the run support for pitchers
“It’s great. I feel like pretty much one through eight, we’ve got guys who can put the ball out of the ballpark. So a lot of the time we play for the bigger inning and we’re not really worried about it throughout the game if we (Braves hitters) have zeroes on the board because any time they can put one out of the ballpark.”
**DAN UGGLA
On Gattis and Francisco homers in the fifth inning
“That was nice, wasn’t it? It’s fun watching those guys when they get ahold of one.”
That inning an example of what offense can do?
“Yeah, if you look at the power and speed that’s in this lineup. We’re just, you know, kind of scratching the surface of what it’s capable of. Of course we’re going to run into some good pitching every now and again, but I think our offense is balanced enough to where the speed that we have, and guys like Schafe coming in giving B.J. a day off, Reed coming in and giving J-Hey a day off, those guys that are coming in are good players. We’re very deep. We’re still expecting production out of whoever comes in. We’ve had huge games out of Pena, as well.
“And of course, take nothing away from our pitching. Our pitching has been awesome so far.”
On going to D.C. with best record in big leagues and a six-game winning streak
“I’m as confident as ever in our team. That’s what you want to do, you want to play against great competition. With this team we have, we’re capable of anything. I’m sure they believe the same thing about their team. We’re expecting to keep this thing going.”
