Braves quotes from Julio Teheran, Freddie Freeman, Cameron Maybin and Fredi Gonzalez, and Brewers quotes from manager Craig Counsell and ejected reliever Will Smith.
**FREDI GONZALEZ
On getting 10 runs, 11 hits without a homer, and the seven-run seventh inning
“Early in the game both of those guys, Garza and Teheran, were pitching really well. It was hard to score runs. We had some line-drive base hits fell in there to extend the rally, kept the line moving, they gave us an opportunity with a c0uple of misplayed balls and we took advantage of it.”
On Teheran’s off-speed pitches
“He had command of all his pitches tonight, he really did. He kept them off-balance and made some pitches when he had to.”
Three out of his last four starts been good to very good, do you think he’s getting back to form?
“I think so. When a pitcher rattles off three or four starts in a row like that you’ve got to feel good about it. Today was nice to see, especially matching up with Garza, he’s putting up zeroes also.”
On Maybin’s throw to complete double play at second base
“That’s not an easy throw. Your back’s against the wall there and he made an accurate throw there in the air, and Simmons made a terrific tag. We ended up doubling up a guy there, when they could have very easily had a guy in scoring position, and the next guy got a base hit. Instead of giving up one run it could have been two runs.”
Who saw the substance on Will Smith’s arm?
“I did. It’s about as plain as could be. It’s pretty blatant, really. It’s glistening through the lights. You could see it in the dugout. I never went out there until he went to (the substance). The whole time he pitched to Ciriaco he never went to his wrist, but the first or second pitch to Peterson he went to it. That’s when I went out to the home-plate umpire to check. I’m sure they got a better look than I did, but it didn’t take them very long to eject him. When you try to be that blatant, sometimes you’ve just got to do what you have to do.”
Could you see it as soon as he came in, during his warmup pitches?
“You could see it from the warmup pitches, but you could really see it during the inning. He only pitched a batter and a half, but you could see it glistening through the lights. I haven’t looked at the video or anything like that. Was it pretty (obvious)?”
On Will Smith shouting at the Braves’ dugout as he walked off field
“That’s not problem if he’s upset or not. I’m worried about my team.”
On Bethancourt’s three-hit night with two doubles
“He caught a great game, too. He caught a clean game. I saw him a couple of times during the course of the game get on Julio, get him back on track. So that’s good. Good for him, good for us, to get his bat going again.”
**FREDDIE FREEMAN
On the win and Teheran’s performance
“Julio was awesome tonight. It took us a while to get going as an offense, but we kind of bottled it up and saved it all for one inning.”
Teheran’s off-speed stuff look especially effective tonight?
“Yeah, hopefully he can keep that going and build off this performance. He was lights-out tonight. He had everything working, so hopefully he can continue that going forward.”
On Will Smith ejection, have you ever been involved in a game when a pitcher gets tossed for pine tar?
“No, that’s the first time. Every pitcher does it. As a hitter you want them to do it so they have a better grip, so we don’t get hit in the head. But just hide it better next time.”
On the offense producing without benefit of home runs
“That’s kind of our team. We’re not going to wow you with the long ball, we’re going to get some hits, move runners first to third, second to home, and we were able to capitalize on some opportunities tonight.”
Won five of six, got back to .500
“Yeah, it’s been a good week. Got back to .500 and hopefully we can continue tomorrow against Peralta. We’ve got to build off these wins and hopefully we can get above .500.”
**CAMERON MAYBIN
On Teheran’s performance
“He did a great job of pounding the strike zone, getting ahead early. He had a great tempo out there. He really did a good job of keeping us in the game until we could get something going.”
On his own hitting lately, and tonight did it with both bat and throwing arm
“I’m just trying to impact the game however I can. Whether it’s defensively, whether it’s offensively. It’s a team effort every night, but I feel like if I can do the things I’ve done the last few weeks, getting on base, causing guys to really work for a tough out, just consistency is all I’m looking for. And I’ve been lucky enough to have some right now.”
On putting the ball in play, being able to capitalize on some mistakes
“Yeah, again we got some really good at-bats. With runners on and in scoring position, as a team we’ve done a really good job of focusing and locking in when guys get out there on base with less than two outs, and with two outs as well. Those are the things that are going to keep us in ballgames. We have to capitalize when we get guys out there, to continue to give our pitches an opportunity to keep us in games and win games. And we’ve been doing a pretty good job of that.”
**JULIO TEHERAN
On his performance
“I felt really good. I felt that I was commanding all my pitches really good, and I was throwing like I did the game before. I was commanding my fastball really good today.”
On working with Bethancourt
“We have a good relationship. It’s comfortable when I’m playing with him; I trust him, he trusts me, so it’s kind of fun every time we play.”
Do you feel like you’re getting back to the Teheran we know, after three good starts in past four?
“Yeah, I’ve been working to get back on track, and I showed today that I’ve been working (hard) to get my fastball, trying to throw all my first pitches for strikes. That’s something that will get some wins for us.”
On mixing his pitches well tonight
“It’s getting ahead in counts, throwing pitches for strikes, making them swing. Something I wasn’t doing before because I was getting behind in counts. When I’m ahead in the count I can use whatever pitch I want. It’s kind of a different game when you’re getting ahead in the count.”
“The defense made some good plays, and the offense was really good today, too.”
**Brewers reliever WILL SMITH
On being ejected for having an illegal substance on his forearm
“It was chilly and kind of windy. I had sunscreen and rosin on my arm. I just forgot to wipe it off before I went out and pitched. I had to kind of get ready in a hurry and just forgot.”
On shouting toward the Braves dugout as he came off the field
“I was upset. I’m a competitor. You want to stay in the game and pitch. It was a big situation. I was pissed I got thrown out. He just took the ball and I was out. You want to be able to feel the ball; that’s it. It’s just grip. It’s not going to spin more; you’re not going to throw harder. You’ve got what you’ve got.”
**Brewers manager CRAIG COUNSELL
on Will Smith’s ejection
“Will was in the bullpen; it was a cold night. He was warming up just to get a grip and made a mistake not to take it off coming into the game. There was no intent on his part but it happened.
“Pitchers are trying to get grips on the ball. We’ve had hitters on other teams ask for pitchers to get a grip on the ball. We’ve had hitters hit in the head asking for pitchers to get grips on the ball. It’s very common. It goes on, on the other side, I guarantee you. It’s the rule. Pitchers are using it. You’ve got to be discreet about it, I guess.
