BOSTON — Braves quotes from Tomma La Stella, Gavin Floyd and manager Fredi Gonzalez after Wednesday's 4-0 loss to the Red Sox.
**FREDI GONZALEZ
On Floyd deserving better once again
“He gives up two runs, one was an unearned run and the other after a flyball miscommunication with a young kid playing second base for the first time in a major league stadium. But (Floyd) grinded out some innings, a hundred-plus pitches in five innings – he really battled to keep us in that position.”
On wasted scoring opportunities
“We got nine hits, left all kinds of people on base. Just couldn’t get that next hit, whether it was a bloop single or a ball going through the infield – we just couldn’t get that next one.”
On La Stella’s two-hit debut
"Tommy was great. He did right what we expected him to, got a couple of hits, put the ball in play, got a good at-bat against a lefty (Breslow) there at the end. He did a nice job. Made a nice turn on a double play. You couldn't ask for anything more out of him, especially in a first major league game, here in Boston facing the Red Sox."
On leaving bases loaded again
“We left 10 on base. And we had some people in the right situations. Just couldn’t break through.”
On Lackey’s effectiveness
“Lacky was just mixing some pitches. He commanded his fastball, threw some of his breaking pitches out of the strike zone. We kind of expanded the strike zone on him a little bit. They had 11 (strikeouts) for the game and he had nine himself.”
Were your guys patient enough with him?
“Well, he was throwing strikes. He didn’t walk anybody. I think the first walk was B.J. there in the (seventh) inning against Capuano. When you throw strikes, you have a tendency to get the hitters aggressive, and then you can expand (the strike zone). So I think that’s what he did tonight.”
On the ballpark, tough place to play?
“I know coming here and New York is tough with the crowds, but it should be fun. I tell you what, it was louder in Atlanta facing the Red Sox there than it was here. So I don’t think the noise or anything like that bothered anybody. It’s a good place to play.”
**TOMMY LA STELLA
On his debut, enjoyable other than the outcome?
“Yeah, it was everything I thought it was going to be. To be out there in that environment, in that atmosphere at Fenway, was a dream come true. It’s a cliché but there really is no other way to describe it. Obviously it would have been a lot better if we had won.”
On controlling his emotions, adrenaline
“I felt like I did a decent job of that. Obviously sometimes the moment catches up to you so to speak. You look around and see all those people and they’re screaming, it’s loud, and the place is rocking, and you kind of look around and catch yourself. It’s pretty impressive.”
On what he felt after his first hit
“Relief. It’s nice to get the first one out of the way, in the first couple of at-bats. Just get it over with.”
Was the pop fly that dropped for a hit between you and B.J. a miscommunication, some unfamiliarity with you two?
“I don’t think it was a familiarity issue as much as it was the ball off the bat, me and Ramiro (Pena) both thought it was way into center field. The wind just knocked it straight back down. I was going back, I didn’t see it once it got up, and B.J. didn’t see it once it got up either. Just a miscommunication. It’s part of the game.”
On what he’ll remember most once he goes back and thinks about game
“I don’t know, it’s tough. Lot of emotions, obviously you’re out there going through everything. I wish I would have done a better job enjoying it. I was really focused more on the game and everything, and more on the outcome. But hopefully I’ll get to enjoy it a little bit tonight with my family.”
**GAVIN FLOYD
On unearned runs, wasted scoring chances, etc., preventing him from getting a win despite 2.37 ERA
“You’ve just got to look past those things, when those things happen you try to hope that things turn around and you just try to keep on battling out there and try to keep us in the game. Seemed like today just a couple of things didn’t go our way. Trying to execute pitches as much as I could and keep putting zeroes up, or just keep it as close a game as I could. Just the way it’s been.”
On staying upbeat, is how you feel physically most important, along with the team winning?
“I want to win. When I’m pitching I want our team to win, and if we don’t win I’m as disappointed as anybody else. Obviously I feel fine, I feel good (physically), but I just wish we could have won today.”
On La Stella’s debut
“It’s cool. I was excited for him. Seeing him in Gwinnett when I played there in rehab starts, I was excited for him to come up here and play a game. Getting his first hit, I know those moments are really special.”
