Braves quotes from Fredi Gonzalez, Joey Terdoslavich and Mike Foltynewicz after Tuesday’s come-from-behind win against the Padres.
**JOEY TERDOSLAVICH
On how it felt to hit first homer and have it be a game-winner
“I told Shelby (Miller) that it felt like the coolest thing that I’ve ever done. So, it was pretty special.”
What pitch are you looking for in that situation?
“Well, I saw him (Benoit) yesterday and I saw two fastballs, and I was just looking for a good pitch to hit. And when I got 2-0 I was looking for something to drive, and I got a fastball and put a good swing on it.”
On being part of a big comeback like that, for a much-needed win
“It was great. We battled back, and it was awesome to be a part of, to get in there and contribute and be a part of grinding back to get back in the game and take the lead.”
On keeping his swing in a part-time role
“Well, I just got back from a rehab assignment where I was playing every day. I’m still getting my timing, but every at-bat I’ve felt better, and today I got a good pitch to hit and I didn’t miss it.”
Did it add to it that your dad was here tonight?
“Yeah, he was. I was texting with him afterward. He said, ‘You’re still shaking.’ He had been here a few days. He comes to a lot of games no matter where I play, and it was special that he was here.”
Did you get the ball?
“Yeah, Eddie got it. I’ve got it in my locker. First thing when I walked out, they said Eddie had it, and he gave it to me. So that was pretty cool.”
It was a line drive, did you realize it was going to clear the fence?
“When I hit it I thought it was too much on a line, so I was running. I actually knew it was gone when TP (first-base coach Terry Pendleton) met me at first base. He wouldn’t be meeting me over there if it’s off the wall. (Laughs.) That’s when I knew. I didn’t even see it go out.”
And you kept running pretty fast, too
“I didn’t want to slow down. I just kept going.” (Laughter.)
**FREDI GONZALEZ
On how nice is to come out with a win when the team makes a 5-0 run
“You know what, they fight. They don’t give up. For them to come back against tough picture in (James) Shields, that was nice really nice. Guys like, I think Nick (Markakis) had a three-hit game quietly. Jonny Gomes had a hell of an at-bat to get the tying run in. Obviously we took very good advantage of the replays, and that’s what it’s there for. And it worked our way this time. Our bullpen did a nice job, coming out with all those guys there and did a nice job. Nice play at the plate with (Juan) Uribe who cut Melvin (Upton Jr.) down with the potential winning run. A lot of good stuff happened today but I loved that our team fights. They don’t give up. They don’t give at-bats away. It’s a good trait.”
On two players hitting first career homer during this home stand
“How about that? I was just arguing with (Director of Media Relations) Brad (Hainje) I thought he had a homer in his career and we had to go to the book and it said this was his first one. So that’s two in what, three or four days, that the first home run was a big home run for us.”
On how the sixth inning seemed dead until Jace Peterson sparked it with his hit
“Yeah, you know and it all starts with the – the lethargic looking — all starts on the hill. Shields was on. (Mike) Foltynewicz was just kind of sputtering through five innings. We tried to get him through six just to develop him a little bit, but sure enough these guys knocked their starter out of the game and picked up our starter from getting a loss.”
What are your thoughts on how replay review impacts the game?
“Well I wasn’t in on it when it first started, I wasn’t in on the replays. But I think there are so many — one game is important, as we find out last year in that play-in game. One game is important. And I think the way that we’re going about it is going to keep getting better and better. You know, why not? And today it helped us with the replay and it’s all about getting the play right. That’s why this replay system got into effect. It’s a good system. I think as managers we have done a better job just standing in front of the dugout instead of going and talking to the umpires and waiting for that phone call to come from the replay system in here. I think just standing outside the dugout and waiting has sped up the process a little bit. So that’s good and it’s going to continue to get better.”
On if he’s all for expanded replay review after tonight
“Well you know even last year after you get a feel for it, it’s a good system. I think the (replay) committee, Major League Baseball and the players union have done a nice job trying to get the plays right. And I think the umpires — they do a nice job. I tell you what, today (there were) three plays at the plate that couldn’t have been any harder for a home-plate umpire, and it’s a good system.”
**MIKE FOLTYNEWICZ
How’d you feel tonight?
“I felt fine out there. Just, there was a lot of two-strike pitches that I didn’t get where I wanted, missed a lot of them. There were 12 hits out there, and probably half of them with two strikes. So we’ve just got to get better locating them, locating that off-speed better. The bullpen and offense saved my butt tonight, so it was a great win.”
It looked like the first RBI double and the homer came on sliders, the first two runs?
“I think a lot of the base hits came off either a curveball or a slider I just didn’t get in the dirt, or a lot of them just got over the middle of the plate. Just bad execution on my part.”
Did the rain delay bother you at all?
“No, I was ready to go and they said it was going to be about a half-hour or 45 minutes, so I just sat inside and kind of got prepared. But other than that it didn’t really bother me. Still got warmed up in plenty of time, so it’s nothing out of control.”
