It's nice to get it out of the way. Couldn't come at a more opportune time for us, and it was nice to get it off a guy I've played with for a long time.

[Friday], we couldn't get a break. We couldn't play defense. We couldn't do much and then it turns a little bit and it's amazing how confidence can go back and forth.

I probably can't do what he did last year because he led the team in RBIs and was pretty much one of the leaders on the field. Hopefully I can fill in, in a small way, and next year build on that.

He's a great pitcher, but that doesn't mean we have to lose a series to a team I think we're better than. We're going to make all their other pitchers throw strikes and make their bullpen beat us.