Quotations

«We had a great crowd behind us cheering loud. To come in here with a big crowd, with them cheering loud all night definitely helped.»

«I don't know if you can have a big game in August, but it was a big game to us. For the last two weeks, we haven't been playing our best baseball.»

«We needed a crisp game. Overall, this was a pretty good game for us.»

«Anytime you get hit in the hand, you think it's serious, ... Those bones, it's so easy to break those.»

«You don't feel pressure to do anything here because of the lineup, ... You know if you don't get the job done, there's a good chance the guy behind will. There are so many guys who can do so much damage.»

«It was tough playing in Kansas City, ... You play to win. When you go out there and lose the majority of your ballgames, it's tough every day. Obviously, this has been exciting.»

«[Tim Wakefield has given up at least two homers in 8 of his last 12 games, a total of 21 over that span. The three gopher balls last night boosted his season total to 29, tying him with the Yankees' Randy Johnson for the league lead. . . . Wade Miller threw about 30 pitches in a bullpen session. . . . Mueller's hitting streak is 14 games. . . . Tony Graffanino had a tender right hamstring and was out of last night's lineup. He was replaced at second by Alex Cora.] If it feels like it did (today), ... I'll probably need another day or so. But hopefully, with all the treatment I got, it will be a lot better.»

«This is the best rivalry in sports. This is a blast. It will be phenomenal if we win three. That's our goal. It has to be our goal.»

«We feel good about ourselves. I don't care how you get in. We'll take it any way we can get it.»

«It's just been a lot of people calling to say they are praying for me, people calling to tell me to keep my chin up. I even had a nice comment from someone in the media saying they appreciated the way I stood up and answered all the questions. They are kind words at a time when you would like to hear them.»