**JUSTIN UPTON
On giving Teheran some run support, after not scoring while he was in three of his previous four starts
“If we can get him comfortable, he’s going to be pretty good (in any game). We got some early runs, he settled in and did a good job.”
How important, at this point, are things like a .500 season and individual stuff like 30 homers and 100 RBIs?
“I mean, obviously this is a competitive team and we wanted to be in the playoffs, but that opportunity has come and gone. Our goal is to play good baseball and win ballgames. Obviously guys have personal goals they want to get to, and that’s all going to come in a team effort. So we’ve all just got to continue to play good baseball in the next four games.”
30 homers, 100 RBIs meaningful to you? (he has 28 and 100 now)
“If I get there, I get there. If not, that’s baseball. I’m just going to continue to go out and play and do what I can do to help the team win, and if that comes it comes.”
**FREDI GONZALEZ
On idea that scoring runs is what makes the team appear more energetic
“It is. The game of baseball is if you are running the bases, scoring runs and anything short of that you start thinking you are lethargic, that there is no energy, especially when you run two and three nights of low-scoring games. Today you come out and say, well, these guys look upbeat — and the only difference we have base runners, we have guys sliding everywhere and running the bases and scoring runs.”
On taking advantage of opportunities to score
“We did. Julio (Teheran) helped himself out. Justin (Upton) had a two-run homer. We kept the line moving a couple different times. It was a good game.”
On Julio Teheran’s season
“Really, really good season for him and he got to 220-something innings, and that’s a big number for him. I think it’s the first time for him to get over the 200 mark. Those are good positives for him. He ends the year with a W, a nice outing and also drives in a couple runs himself.”
On Justin Upton getting a couple hits
“We were talking about it, he hits a big two-run homer and we’ve got four games left. Why stop at 100 RBIs? I know he’s got an opportunity to get 100 and 30 home runs but he can get hot, he may be able to get 105 and add to his home run total.”
On Chris Johnson’s injury
“It’s a strained back. He did it on the last swing, the double down the left-field line. We don’t think it’s anything major. We will check on him tomorrow. If we need to give him a day off, we will, but I think he’s going to be OK.”
**JULIO TEHERAN
On how he feels finishing up the season, winning his last start tonight
“I felt a little excited and I just wanted to do my job today. Everything was working. I was really focused on finishing strong tonight.”
On his two hits tonight
“I was trying to put the ball in play. I really wanted to get this win. I was trying to do my best hitting and pitching.”
On getting plenty of early run support
“It was nice to get run support. That is something I really need when I want to win. When I got the run support that’s when I get a little more confidence and try to make better pitches.”
Do you feel like you had a successful season individually?
“Yeah, it’s successful. I’m glad with everything I did this year. It’s time to get my rest now and try to come back the same way next year.”
On going out with run support after having bad luck recently
“Yeah, but I know that’s part of the game. That’s part of our team. That’s the kind of the bad stuff that happened this year. But I was trying to finish strong, get my mind at the same point and just finish strong.”
**CHRIS JOHNSON
On his back strain
“I swung and then I tried to kind of like come back across and try to run and the left side of my back kind of locked up a little bit. So I tried to deal with it and go out and play defense and then when I was playing defense trying to get back up but it still kind of locked up. I got adjusted and he said I was a little out of line. Hopefully it’s not too sore tomorrow. Just take it day by day, I guess.”
Have you had an similar injury before?
“I’ve never had any back problems. I try to care of my hamstrings and back through the season. Hopefully it’s just something that is kind of a freak thing that locked up and I can go out there tomorrow.”
On Julio Teheran’s performance
“He’s a stud, man. There were a couple of real cool things today. Justin (Upton) swinging the bat well and getting a couple RBIs, one away (from 100) and Julio finishing up his season really well. He’s a stud. He’s our horse.”
Nice to give Teheran some run support this time?
“I don’t want to toot our horn too much. It’s only one time. Hopefully we can continue to do this for the remainder of this season and kind of carry over into a good note in the off season.”
