Braves quotes from Williams Perez, Andrelton Simmons and Fredi Gonzalez after Wednesday’s 2-1 win over Rays.
**FREDI GONZALEZ
On Williams Perez going five strong innings in first MLB start
“It was a tough five, too. It wasn’t an easy five. But I tell you what, watching him in the dugout between innings, he’s a guy who pitches with his eyes a little bit – he knows what kind of swings guys are making to his pitches, and he makes adjustments. And he competes. I think that last (inning), when he got Longoria with a punchout, he was on fumes. I mean, he hadn’t started in (17) days. Those two outs (strikeouts of Souza and Longoria with two on) there in the fifth are going to go a long way for his development in the future.”
Did you think having two relief appearances under his belt helped him know what to expect?
“You would think so. But it’s still his first start, and you didn’t know how he was going to react. Shoot, he got finished warming up at 6:55. Fifteen minutes sitting in the dugout. Jonny Gomes and Pierzynski and I kind of looked at each other going, I don’t know what’s going to happen here. But maybe that’s his routine, who knows? We’ll get a better feel for it. But usually those starters don’t sit around that long, especially at home. But he did terrific. You can’t ask for anything more from him.
“And we got a couple of runs. Cunningham on the fielder’s choice, got one in, then our bullpen did a nice job. When you’ve got a lead and you can line those guys up, you feel like you’ve got a good chance to win a ballgame. Cunniff is kind of emerging as a guy who you trust in high-leverage situations.”
On Freeman struggling a little lately, coming through with big double tonight and starting crucial 3-6-1 double play
“He’s probably the most consistent hitter we have, and I think sometimes when somebody goes 0-for-7 or 1-for-9, we think he’s struggling. But for the most part, that’s not bad.
“That might be one of the hardest double plays in baseball to turn, that 3-6-1. And he did it with the bases loaded. So good for us, good for Williams that we turned that. It was a nice win.”
On Perez spiking the ball after double play
“You like to see guys pitch with emotions and that kind of stuff. So it’s good. Let’s see how he learns from it and goes about his business, but so far he did a nice job.”
He has a nasty breaking ball, huh?
“He’s got a couple of different ones. I think A.J. did a nice job early in the game, I think he went 2-2 changeup to DeJesus or Cabrera, and then he went 3-2 change-up swinging. He’s got, like I said, just a short look at him, he’s got a nice feel for pitching.”
On taking him out after 79 pitches and five innings
“I don’t know when the last time he’s thrown more than 80 pitches. So it’ll get better. Just keep running him out there. But I like the feel he has on the mound.”
On Jace Peterson’s two ten-pitch walks
“One of the walks kept the rally going and we ended up scoring. He just keeps getting better and better, and we run him out there defensive and feel real good about him.”
**ANDRELTON SIMMONS
On Williams Perez
“He was good. We saw him a couple of games out of the pen and he struggled a little bit. But he’s been settling down, and he came in today starting and did a terrific job. He got in a little jam and made big pitches.”
He seem more comfortable to you, knowing he had a couple of appearances under his belt?
“Yeah. As the game went on, he was doing what he does. We saw him in spring training when he was a little more relaxed, a little less pressure, and he’ll move the ball around, throw a little two-seamer, throw a changeup. And he started doing that as the game went on, he got more confident using all his pitches. And he did great.”
Did you smile when you saw him spike the ball after the double play?
“I was happy we got out of the inning. It’s always good to see that excitement out of teammates. I was glad.”
On getting a couple of runs against Odorizzi
“We didn’t do much, but we did just enough. Hopefully we keep doing just enough for the rest of the season.”
**WILLIAMS PEREZ (translator Eddie Perez)
On his performance and how he feels about it
“I want to thank God that I was able to do a good job for the team. I was a little nervous.”
On settling in after first inning
“I didn’t know much about their hitters, all I knew was what was on video. But after that (first inning) I got more confidence.”
Excited after the double play?
“Yes. It was a very close inning right there and I just wanted to get out of it. Making a double play there made me feel good.”
Were you tired after 79 pitches and five innings?
“I didn’t feel tired, but I knew I threw a lot of pitches in that inning, so I think that’s why Fredi took me out.”
On having the changeup and curveball working today
“That’s one of the best things about today, having the changeup and the curveball both in the game today. That was a big thing for me, that’s why I pitched so good today.”
