I’m getting an opportunity to show that I can pitch and pitch in big games, … That’s all you can ask as an athlete, a chance to do big things.

He’s talked to me about having that personality that’s got to match your stuff, … He said, ‘If you’ve got electric stuff, you’ve got to have an electric personality. Hitters don’t have to fear you,...

It just happened where I’m the guy that has to get skipped. I’ll be ready to pitch Saturday.

I just look at it as, ‘Wow, what an opportunity,’

I don’t know how I got through losing and being in last place every year. Obviously, simply because I’ve never been in this situation. I’m just very, very thankful.

I’m trying to eliminate the get-yourself-into-trouble part. That’s not fun, but it happens. I’ve been compensating so far.

I’m happy. Being in a race and helping the team, I don’t think I could have written a better script.

They told me when I came over here that we were trying to piece it together until we could get over the injuries, … Between Small, myself, even Proctor making that one start, we’ve done...

I threw strikes and was able to go late in the game. And the defense was outstanding.

After the second run scored, I still had Vladimir Guerrero coming to bat with a guy on base, so all of that was out of my head, … The guys came to me and said,...

Obviously, I’m excited now that I know I’m going to start. I wouldn’t say relieved, but that’s where I know I want to be. But I also know it’s game-by-game here. I know what the...

There’s no doubt in my mind this team has a chance to do something good, … To be a part of it is a blessing.

I’ve been getting ahead of hitters, throwing all my pitches for strikes and really just staying aggressive, letting the defense play. That’s something they’ve been doing is playing outstanding defense.

Especially his personality and the way he can relate to you, not necessarily in a serious way, but kind of joking around, it was a tremendous help. For me, as a catcher, he’s the best...

It wasn’t that bad. I’d much rather pitch in these conditions than be a hitter. At least as a pitcher you’re constantly moving.

I don’t want to waste an opportunity to play on this team and be good on this team. Nobody knows when they’ll get an opportunity to play for the New York Yankees. . . ....

At the back of the rotation, they’re not looking for guys to go out and throw shutouts, they just want us to keep them in the game, … I understand that, especially coming from Colorado,...

Hearing that makes you feel good, no doubt,

I feel great. I just need to get a little stronger.

I’m proud, but not too proud because we did lose. Throwing seven strong innings, I’m always going to be proud of that. But the bottom line’s winning, and we didn’t get it done tonight.

It was a bad day to have a bad day,

I don’t make the decision so I’m not thinking about it,

The amazing thing. Is that he has got one pitch, to do all that with one pitch. Watching him, he looks like he doesn’t even break a sweat.

Over here is a different mindset from them. You know you’re getting ready for a championship season, and a season where you know in your heart that you’re going to the playoffs and that ultimately...

I was behind all night, … Usually I can throw my breaking ball for strikes, but tonight I couldn’t.

I just know this weekend is the most exciting and most important weekend of my career,

We heard the cheers from the back field. We didn’t know what was going on.

I take all the confidence in the world knowing that I did get out of those jams.

If I can throw my curveball and changeup in fastball counts, it’s going to help me so much, especially when I have runners in scoring position because major-league hitters are aggressive, especially when there’s runners...

[The righthander was shaken afterward but not before, he insisted.] I probably haven’t faced a lineup like theirs. … To me, I’m not scared of anybody. They’re baseball players just like I am. They put...

I’m thinking, ‘Without this team, I wouldn’t have done as good as I have.’

I felt good to the last pitch. That’s all I’m looking for.

It was one of those days. The sixth inning was scary but we got through it. Today was a grind. I didn’t feel I had anything as far as command of my pitches.

With one of the breaking balls, backdoor, I thought I had him, … It was borderline. I guess you don’t get those calls. In a perfect world, I’d like to have those pitches. But they...

I was able to throw everything for strikes, … I was able to make pitches when I needed to. It was a good day.

When I was on the mound, I was pretty relaxed. I was focused. I don’t know what it is, but I’m more nervous before I pitch and then after I come out of the game....

That was the worst three-inning shutout I’ve ever thrown. This was definitely one of those days.

Obviously the big hit was the home run, … That was a situation when I didn’t want to throw a strike and it caught a little too much of the plate.

I see what lies ahead, … It’s win or go home.

We were right next to an Air Force base out there.

I wouldn’t say I needed it desperately. But after struggling the first couple of times you put more pressure on yourself.

That’s no disrespect to Colorado or anything,

Two or three called me up and said, ‘Man, they’re trying to take money out of your pocket,’

In the simplest terms, I kept the same mentality coming over here, but I also realized I was getting the opportunity to pitch on a really, really, really good team. And I had to take...

Through five, I did exactly what I wanted to do with most of the pitches. In the sixth inning, just made a couple bad pitches to some good hitters. That was it.

It’s great following him. He told me to watch the hitters to see if they change their approach. I mixed it up and kept them off balance.

Those were game-saving plays,

I don’t know what it is, but I’m more nervous before a game and when I come out of it, … The mound is the one place I’m supposed to be. I’m in control and...

With a team like this, you don’t panic. I got rewarded for keeping the game close.

Just getting ahead. I watched Smally do it all day yesterday, and I saw how that turned out for him.