Braves quotes after Wednesday’s loss to Royals

**FREDI GONZALEZ

On the game and pitching performances

“I thought Mike pitched great today. I thought everybody did. Ayala gives us two innings there, faces some of those tough left-handers, and then Cory getting a double play in the ninth inning off of Francoeur, who singlehandedly had a pretty good series against us defensively and offensively.

“You’ve got to be pleased with Mike’s outing. We had some opportunities. Seemed like Davis just made some pitches when he had to make some pitches.”

Strike zone have any effect on Braves after couple of borderline calls early?

“You know what, it is what it is as far as strike zones. Doug (Eddings) is one of the better umpires in the major leagues, and I think on any given game, especially a one-run game, you’re going to get a little frustrated with the strike zone. Other than that we had some opportunities. When you have a one-run game, anybody on our ballclub’s got a chance to come up to the plate and tie it. We just couldn’t get any good swings today.”

On 3B coach Snitker sending Francisco to try to score from first on the bloop double

“Well, you’ve got to make plays. The way the game’s going, he’s got to pick it up and make a good throw to the plate, and Perez has got to make a good catch and make a tag. And they did that. I thought it was a good send.”

On Gattis hesitating before throwing to 1B, allowing runner to retreat and get back safely

“We talked about it in the dugout a little bit. He’s got to give it up a little sooner than he did. That’s stuff you learn up here in the big leagues, the speed of the game and that kind of stuff. That’s a learning moment for him.”

Dodged a bullet with Avilan?

“I think so (knocks on wood desk). He feels better today. The guys were giving him some grief – ‘Holy cow, you come out of the game, look like someone whose hamstring came completely off the game.’ And he’s OK today. So we’ll know more tomorrow, but he felt a lot better today.”

**MIKE MINOR

On his performance and the game

“I felt good. It was just one of those days where we couldn’t get anything off Davis. But I felt good. I thought it was a good game. It was tough up there for the hitters; a couple of calls, I thought, were questionable. Other than that, it was just one of those days.”

Did you think the strike zone was the same for both teams?

“I didn’t get very many (borderline calls) because I don’t think mine were close enough. I think maybe I didn’t nibble enough (on the edges of the strike zone). Mine were more plate, and if they were off they were significantly off. I didn’t really see it till I came in (and watched video). I saw the zone was, I thought, a little bit expanded. So it was a little bit difficult for hitters.”

**JASON HEYWARD

On going out on 10-game road trip to some cold cities

“I get to go play some more baseball and have some more fun. That’s what’s awesome about this game. You get to play with the elements, in different parks and different cities.”

On his performance

“I’m persevering, plugging away. I’m working, having a lot better at-bats, getting closer to that Mendoza Line (.200). Not, but I’m gradually making my way there, at the same time trying to put up good ABs, hit the ball hard.”

**JUSTIN UPTON

On Wade Davis

“He did well, hit his spots, had a good breaking ball. He changed eye levels. He did pretty much everything today. We just didn’t solve him.”

People come to expect Braves to hit 2-3 homers a day, when it’s not always going to happen

“Yeah, sometimes that guy goes out there and beats us. That’s part of the game. That’s why we play so many games. We’ve just got to continue doing what we’ve been doing and put together good at-bats.”

**DAN UGGLA

On plate umpire Doug Eddings and some close calls going against Braves hitters

“He’s been doing this a long time and you have to have respect for him. That’s why I would never try to show him up. But at the same time, I’m going to voice my opinion as well.

“Wade Davis threw a great game today. He kept us off-balance and made the pitches he needed to make when he needed to make them.”

On 10-game winning streak ending, feel a little strange not to win?

“Yeah, the last however many games we felt like we were going to win every one of them. But obviously that wave was going to end eventually. Come back tomorrow and start another.”

**EVAN GATTIS

On hesitating before throwing to first, which allowed runner to get back safely

“In hindsight, I should have just got rid of it. Whenever you start running at somebody you’re not really ready to throw.”

On the game, Minor’s performance