—Quotes compiled by Michael Cunningham and Matthew Bain
**FREDI GONZALEZ
On the victory
A solid baseball game. We did a lot of stuff offensively. Left some people on base but we scored enough runs. I thought the turning point of that game was Cameron Maybin catching that ball in straightaway center in the fifth inning and I think gave our young pitcher kind of a fresh start. He had what you see on a young pitcher: first two outs, base hit. Those are the learning lessons from a young starter. But I think that was the turning point in the game, Cameron making that play. Not too many centerfielders make that play. Challenged the wall there in straightway center, he made the play and we are out of the inning. The next two innings (Perez) goes out and retires the side in order. Kelly (Johnson) comes back and gets three hits and we win the ballgame.
On the bottom of the order getting nine hits
We got some production and got some people on base with the middle of the order. It was a good, well-played baseball game.
On Williams Perez
There was a lot of good moments for him to learn and to experience. Those first three innings getting two quick outs and then a hit, that’s just inexperience. You let your guard down because you got the first two guys out and all of a sudden here we go. It was good. He gave us a great opportunity to win the ball game and we converted.
On Cameron Maybin’s clutch hitting
That’s good. He’s been having a terrific month-and-a-half, maybe even longer. He puts the ball in play. He uses all fields. He’s impacting the game both offensively and defensively.
On luxury of having Jim Johnson close with Jason Grilli getting a game off
Big time. A guy who has done it. It’s nice. The obvious reason Jason Grilli, he’s 38-year old pitcher the last three nights he got in the 60s (on pitches). We have to take care of him and it’s nice to have that luxury. J.J. has gone three in a row but he’s a big, strong guy who can do it. He will get the day off tomorrow.
On Williams Perez’s poise
He does. That was one of the turn-ons with him with him with John Hart is this guy has got some moxie. He’s got some composure, he doesn’t rattle. He makes pitches. That’s tough to teach. That’s something that he’s got a confidence about him
**CAMERON MAYBIN
On the win
Offense did the same thing we’ve been doing and that’s competing at the plate, putting at-bats together and capitalizing when we get runners in scoring position. You can’t say enough about what Williams did a gain. He’s been pretty good in his last few starts and another good one against a good-hitting ball club. I think you’ve got to tip your hat to him for getting us in a good rhythm and giving us a chance to be in a position to win.
On his catch for the third out in the fifth inning
That’s what I do. That’s what I take the most pride in. I work my tail off at the plate but then I spend a lot of time taking pride in my defense. It was a big play. Those are the things you have to do. We are struggling as a team, trying to get things going as a team, you’ve got to make plays at both ends and that’s what I try to do.
On watching young pitchers Perez and Mike Foltynewicz develop
It’s fun. More than anything, they compete. That’s the most fun thing to watch. They don’t shy away from competition or the moment. It’s been fun to watch.
On why he’s been so successful hitting with bases loaded
I don’t know. I haven’t panicked. I keep the same approach, try not to do anything different and things are working out.
**KELLY JOHNSON
On if it’s nice to get things going again
Yeah, definitely. The win’s the most important, for sure. Being back’s nice, though. A little boost of energy being back around the guys and just being here.
On how his timing felt at the plate
It was a good first day. Obviously that’s how you like to see it. It doesn’t always work out that way. It doesn’t work out that way even when you’ve been playing for 20 games in a row, so it’s just baseball. So it’s nice to have that day, but also just the win. The guys pitched great – unbelievable actually. Probably one of the more comfortable three-run games I’ve been a part of.
On misjudging fly ball in fifth inning
Yeah I didn’t get a good read on it. It didn’t look to me like he hit it good — that good. But I just had a bad read, shaking off rust everywhere, really. But I hope that I don’t have to worry about something like that again. You hate giving them runs and obviously not helping your pitcher out that way.
On if the time off made it so he misread the ball
There were a couple balls tonight that I didn’t really see great off the bat, so we’ll chalk it up to that.
On watching the young pitchers grow up right in front of team
Williams (Perez) competes, he works fast, he’s easy to play behind. (Mike) Foltynewicz has gotten better and better every start. And the other guys. Shelby (Miller) is having a dominant year. I mean, if he’s not in the All-Star game, there will be a lot of mad people around here. And everyone else is competing as best they can, so everyone’s been working, so hopefully we can continue win games and keep us in the hunt.
On if Perez has moxie, like Fredi Gonzalez said
That’s exactly my impression of him, and that’s the impression that people have had since seeing him last year in Double-A … There was a vibe about him, he had people talking about him so I really am a big fan of that guy. Anybody that gets the ball like that, competes, throws strikes and works quick, that makes it fun for the guys playing behind him.
