Braves quotes from Julio Teheran, Chris Johnson and manager Fredi Gonzalez after Wednesday’s 3-1 win against the Mets pushed Atlanta’s winning streak to seven games.
**CHRIS JOHNSON
On his big three-run, two-out double in 1st
“Actually I think we did a really good before I came up, seeing a lot of good pitches. We haven’t seen him before, so it was nice to see some pitches, see all of what he had, then I was able to get a ball out over the plate and luckily got it down the line.”
Nice getting Teheran some good run support for a change?
“Absolutely, any time you give Julio some run support it’s a really good thing for the Braves. He’s continually (being) his All-Star self, and hopefully he goes to the All-Star game.”
On winning lately without hitting ball out of park, nice to know can do that?
“Yeah. We’re always going to hit home runs; we’ve got guys on the team who hit a lot of home runs. So it’s nice to show that we can win games the other way. I think it’s a confidence booster for us, knowing that we don’t have to hit that two-, three-run home run to get a bunch of runs. That inning we got some walks and were able to get on base and come up with a big two-out hit.”
Even more encouraging to do it with two outs, like you’ve done past couple of nights?
“Yeah, it means we’re not giving up. Just because it’s two outs doesn’t mean we can’t get some runs on the board. And there’s really no quit in this team. I’m not surprised by that.”
Did team hit rock bottom being swept by Phillies in last homestand?
“Maybe not rock bottom, but we were definitely upset. That was definitely a quiet bus ride (to the airport) when we left here. It was a bitter taste in our mouth. We’re a team that doesn’t really enjoy getting beat like that and getting swept, and especially in front of our home crowd. But our crowd’s been great this homestand, and we’ve turned it around and we’re playing good baseball.”
**JULIO TEHERAN
How does the leg feel (after getting hit by one-hopper in fourth inning)?
“It feels a little bit (like) it’s burning. But I wanted to stay in the game so bad and keep pitching. I tried to keep the same focus in the game and don’t think about the ball that hit me.”
Where did the ball hit you?
“In my right leg, on the outside of my leg.”
Is it swollen?
“It’s pretty sore right now but during the game I didn’t feel it. I tried to stay focused in my game.”
On not wanting to leave after getting three runs in the first inning
“The same thing happened my last game. I am just glad the first inning I got the support of my team. That’s something that motivated me.”
Did you feel good out there?
“Yeah, I feel good. Everything was working today. Even when they got the one run I still feel good.”
On reuniting with catcher Christian Bethancourt
“We were in the minor leagues pitching together. I think we have good communication.”
On continuing trend of Braves pitchers getting hits, three in the last four games
“I’m just trying to put the ball in play. That’s something that we enjoy.”
How much do you work on that pick-off move?
“I don’t work on it. I just know that I have a good move and sometimes I have to take advantage with the runners. They know that I’ve got a good move.”
Was it especially good to get that guy (Eric Young) there?
“Yeah, that saved a run right there and that’s something big for me.”
Do you feel like the team is coming together and playing its best ball of the season?
“We are doing a great job and everybody is doing the little things. That is something that’s getting good for the team. We’ve just got to continue doing that and we’re going to be fine at the end.
On the team living up to expectations in the past two weeks
“Yeah, we’ve been doing a great job with all the things. We are just getting together for this time.”
**FREDI GONZALEZ
On Teheran’s performance
“I thought I was going to have to get him out of there early but he battled and gave us seven strong innings. Those last two innings it was a gut check. He got himself into trouble and he made some great pitches to (Kirk) Nieuwenhuis there in in the seventh inning to get the big punch-out there to end that inning. We gave him three runs in the early in the game and he made it hold up.”
On Julio Teheran’s nice pick-off move to get Eric Young in the sixth inning
“(Teheran) has got quick feet. He’s got tremendously quick feet and we caught E.Y. leaning trying to steal a bag.”
Did you have a feeling Teheran would be staying in the game when you went to check on him?
“No, not really. I am always cautious. He just kind of grinned and beared it.”
Where did the ball hit him?
“Right in between the calf and the shin bone. That’s about as good a medical term I can give on that. But obviously he’s fine.”
Teheran probably didn’t want to come out because it’s so rare he gets run support
“We got it early. Our first couple innings we did a terrific job getting deep in some counts. I thought he (Mets starter Jacob deGrom) was going to wiggle out of it when we got bases loaded with no outs, and then C.J. (Chris Johnson) gave us a great at-bat there with a three-run double.”
Nice to see Jordan Walden get the save because you didn’t want to use closer Craig Kimbrel?
“There were a lot of guys we didn’t want to use. We didn’t want to use (Shae) Simmons, we didn’t want to use (Luis) Avilan. (Anthony Varvaro) did a nice job and then Walden did a nice job there in the ninth inning. We were able to get those guys today off and tomorrow off.”
On second baseman Tommy La Stella’s play in the field in the eighth inning
“He made a nice play. The ball was to his right, he dove for it and made a nice feed to (Andrelton) Simmons. It was an absolutely nice play.”
You said before the game that lately with guys on third you get them in
“I jinxed them.” (laughs)
At least you got it done in the first inning
“As soon as that came out of my mouth this afternoon, I thought, it’s over with. But C.J. gave us a great at-bat there.”
On Teheran being dominant against the NL East
“We have to. We have got to take care of our division. He’s done a terrific job, I think, all-around. You look back there are just a couple of outings he struggled a little bit. But every time he goes out there you feel pretty good he’s going to give you a chance to win.”
