*FREDI GONZALEZ
On the homer-fueled win
“That middle of the lineup, those big three with Freeman, Gattis and Mac, did a hell of a job for us. Kept us in the game with those home runs, and got us ahead a few times. That’s a pretty big three right there. Too bad we’re not in the American League. We’ve got to go back and play National League (rules). But it’s nice to have those three all in the lineup at one time.”
On Maholm weathering the storm, going 6
“Paul did a terrific job, for the way that first inning went for us. We went out and scored three runs. We didn’t play real well behind him and he gives up four (in the first), then comes back and gives us six strong innings. Good for him. That’s a guy who’s been around a little bit, a professional, a veteran pitcher who’s not going to get rattled. And he did a nice job.
“He was in line to get the W. But again, to try to get nine outs (from the bullpen) with a one-run lead is tough. But I’m glad that we came up with some big home runs at the end.”
On Gearrin bouncing back from blown lead at New York with strong 9th today
“Against some big guys in Buatista, Encarnacio and Arencibia. He did a nice job. But that doesn’t surprise me. Cory’s pretty resilient when it comes to that kind of stuff.”
On Schafer and Reed Johnson filling in in outfield
“Schafer gets on base, and Reed Johnson – he doesn’t do anything offensively today, but he made two nice plays defensively. I felt comfortable with the outfield to leave them out there. You’ve got Justin Upton and B.J. Upton sitting on the bench, but you feel like those three guys out there at the end of the game were as good (defensively) or maybe even a little bit better. And I’m saying that because Reed has played left field a little bit more than Justin has.”
** BRIAN McCANN
On getting this win to finish trip
“Just kind of the way the game went. Pauly really settled down there and put up zeroes and kept us in the ballgame, and we were able to get a couple of hits towards the end.”
On Maholm going six innings after rough start to game, take some pressure off ‘pen
“It’s huge. Especially after the first inning. On both sides the first inning wasn’t too great. But Pauly kept making some pitches, got us to the sixth, and then handed it over to our bullpen. I thought he did great.”
On the lineup
“I think we’ve been doing it all year. I think people are getting lost with all the strikeouts; that’s what everybody wants to talk about. But we’re sitting there in first place coming up on June. It’s the way we’re built – we hit a lot of home runs and we’re going to strike out. But you put up seven runs? There’s nothing bad about that at all.”
On Gearrin’s bounce-back performance
“Today was a big outing for him. He came out and made his pitches, and executed. And then you hand the ball to Kimbrel. That’s kind of like your get-out-of-jail-free card, handing the ball to him.
“We’re excited about where we are now. We just need to keep playing good baseball.”
**EVAN GATTIS
On the win
“It was a good game. That was baseball. That was a great game.
“We split. It’s good to take this win. I imagine the feel would have been a lot different if we lost two in a row here. At least we split. We won this won, and we’ll keep winning close games, hopefully.”
On McCann homering after him
“That was cool. Just glad he got it.”
On Maholm after first
“He was lights-out after that.”
On Gearrin’s bounce-back performance
“We didn’t throw a fastball today, and got out three really good hitters. It’s awesome.”
Just one pitch?
“Slider. He didn’t throw any sinkers. He’s got two sliders, one he threw for a strike, and one that’s just like a Frisbee. It’s hard to hit. It’s almost like it stops. It’s spinning and it stops and breaks. Good pitch.”
On Maholm’s eephus/curveball that Bautista hit out
“We were on the same page with that one. We were throwing all fastballs, changeups, hard cutters, stuff like that. And then you drop the eephus on him. Tip your cap. He stayed back on it well; he didn’t miss it. It’s tough. He (Bautista) starts early, too. To stay back like that, he did a good job.”
**PAUL MAHOLM
On getting through four-run first inning and going six
“Obviously I wish the first inning would have gone differently, just because we put up three in the first. If it’s a National League game, I may not have stayed in for as long. But I was just going to go out and try to make an adjustment, make my pitches and get some ground balls, and let the guys make some plays.
“You could tell after the first inning that both teams were going to score some runs.”
On taking some pressure off ‘pen
“You want to go six, minimum. With the bullpen, I want to do the best I can to take care of those guys and not have them cover six or seven innings. We swung the bats well and snuck one out.”
On the Braves’ catchers, McCann and Gattis
“They’re pretty good. Obviously they’re good behind the dish, but they’re both power threats. (Opposing teams) don’t want to see them come up in a big situation. Obviously Mac’s done it for seven or eight years, but Gatt’s making a name for himself. He’s done some damage. It’s fun to watch. It’s fun to not have to throw to our lineup.”
**CORY GEARRIN
On it being a good way to end the trip
“It definitely was. I’m glad we could come back. Our guys swung like crazy today, the hitters really picked us up.”
Did you want the ball again soon after the blown lead Sunday in New York?
“Yeah, definitely. After that last game, it’s one of those things, as an athlete and a competitor, you want to get back out there and play. I want to help my team win. That’s why we’re here, to win games. So it’s exciting to go out and be in the situation to help us keep it close and allow Mac to do what he did and really pick us up there in the 10th.”
And you were facing heart of a strong lineup in ninth
“That’s where you want to be. You want to compete against the best, and they have a great lineup. So it was a lot of fun to go out there and compete. Now keep it up in the next two at home.”
“It worked out great. Gattis did a great job calling the game back there today.”
On the Braves’ catchers
“Mac being perennially the best hitting catcher in the game, and you throw Gattis in there – it’s unbelievable. It’s a special thing we’ve got going in this locker room, for sure.”
