The first thing I do after a game is call my mom or brother or someone, and I don't know how they do it, but they get the information before I can tell them, ... It's pretty funny.

[He paused and looked up to make eye contact, expressing sincerity that needed no translation.] When I go out to pitch, I go out to pitch not only for the fans here in Chicago but my fans in Cuba and the Cuban people, ... I represent something bigger than just pitching for one team.

I was ready to pitch my game once we started. The rain was the last thing on my mind. I had a good fastball, kept the ball down in the zone, and my slider was effective early in the game.

I'm being aggressive and throwing strikes, ... Finally, it's coming together.

At the beginning of the year, I was pitching pretty decent but I wasn't getting the wins. Now, I'm getting the wins and helping the team win games.

I've got a lot of respect for the Yankees, but I think it's just coincidence I pitched well against them. Both games were big games and we needed that. Hopefully I can bring this game against every team I face.

When I would lose a game before and they were not here, it was hard, but now it's a little easier to take, ... And when you win, you feel that much better because you can share it with your family.

It was a little bit of a motivation, but I never let it get to me, ... I knew if I work hard, good things will happen.

The government is one thing and the country of Cuba and my people are something different completely, ... It's like the United States government and your country. You don't have to agree with the policies to be proud of your country.