LOS ANGELES — Braves quotes from Julio Teheran, Jonny Gomes and Fredi Gonzalez after Tuesday’s 8-0 loss at Dodger Stadium.
**FREDI GONZALEZ
On Teheran’s struggles again tonight
“The execution of pitches, the ones I saw on the jumbotron, were just balls out over the plate. These guys swing the bat real well. Gonzalez (homer), again it was a pitch out over the plate. Execution was not as good as we’ve seen him, and that’s something we need to work on. He needs to get better on that kind of stuff.”
Seems like every time Teheran has a bad outing, it’s one terrible inning that does it
“Yeah, the big number they put up. There in the fourth inning we tried to stay away from the big inning with the base open and Gonzlaez at the plate (intentional walk). And that became a … we didn’t get an out for three or four hitters after that.”
Teheran’s velocity wasn’t down tonight, do you think it’s just matter of command inconsistency?
“I think so. Command and control are two different things. And execution of pitches that we’re trying to get to come back on left-handers are getting right over the plate, and he’s not missing (bat) barrels. So we need to work on that.”
On Kershaw being so dominant once again, no walks and 10 strikeouts tonight
“You see that 4.4, 4.5 ERA, and he didn’t look like a guy that’s got a 4.5 ERA. He was a guy that you see and have trouble against. Maybe he’s starting to get back on track a little bit.”
Have you talked to the players involved in the trade?
“I can’t comment about any of that kind of stuff. Tomorrow, pending major league baseball approval – I don’t think there’s going to be any problem with that – but I can’t talk about any of the players involved. That’s all. That’s all I’ve got right now.”
**JULIO TEHERAN
On his performance
“I missed a couple of times. All you can say at the end is I have to keep fighting and working and trying to get better.”
On one or two terrible innings ruining several of his starts this season
“That’s what I was going to say, every time I get a bad outing it’s in one inning that I get in trouble. I’ve got to try to work on this thing and just try to get back.”
Just part of the growing process, even though you established yourself last year?
“I’ve never been through this kind of thing. Just trying to learn from it and try to do my best, trying to work hard and hopefully get back where I want to be like I did last year.”
**JONNY GOMES
On Kershaw’s dominant performance after coming in with a 4.32 ERA
“If he throws like he threw today he’s not going to have a 4 (ERA) for very long. He’s obviously well-decorated, and that’s why. We saw a bunch of pitches off him, we battled. Guys like that, top three or four guys in the league, I mean, when we saw our guy Shelby Miller be on a couple of times; he (Kershaw) ran that same outing out. The game got out of hand, so he started playing with a little house money there at the end. Tip your hat.”
On Kershaw’s stuff
“He runs it up there 95-95 (mph), if he can get that curveball over it makes for a long day. He’s getting that curveball over, obviously it makes the fastball that much better. Very few lefties – I get a lot of the lefties – those lefties that can hit arm-side of the plate, it really separates them. And he’s one of them.”
On Teheran, do we need to remind ourselves he’s still just 24?
“Yeah, but at the same time, service time trumps age. Especially these days when guys get to the league so fast. I’ve never pitched a day in this league, nor will I ever. I’m sure he’ll work it out. He’s still one of the decorated pitchers in the National League, opening-day starter for a reason. I’m sure he’ll get back on track. Pitching coach Roger (McDowell) is obviously one of the best in the game, as well.”
