NL WILDCARD GAME: DODGERS VS CARDINALS

October 6, 2021

Max Scherzer

Chris Taylor

Dodger Stadium

Los Angeles Dodgers

Postgame Press Conference

Dodgers - 3, Cardinals - 1

MAX SCHERZER: This is how I'll describe it. When you win a World Series you develop a friendship and bond that's going to last a lifetime. So for those two guys, ^ K Long and Soto to be there, it just shows you the type of love it takes to be able to win a World Series, and that's going to last forever.

They enjoyed being here and watching us and cheering us on. They're connected to this because of Trea and I. I mean, that's just a cool feeling. In baseball circles, you get real close knit, and to have their support and their presence here just adds to the experience.

Q. Max, this was a big win, but now you guys are going to San Francisco. How much momentum does this give to you guys for that series?

MAX SCHERZER: You know, this is postseason baseball. Anything can happen. Games can turn on a dime. They've been a great team. They won the division. They beat us. Now we have an opportunity to get them where we want them. That's winning the postseason. They're a great talented team. Obviously they showed that throughout the course of the season, so it's going to absolutely take everything from us to be able to win this series.

Here we go, let's play some baseball.

Q. You knew today was going to be a battle between pitchers. How would you describe the battle and what were your takeaways from today?

MAX SCHERZER: I was just pitching on pins and needles. I gave up that early run in the first and just in my mind was just keep it to a one-run game. Then it became a tie game. You don't want to give up another run at that point.

A lot of your pitches that you're trying to execute, you're on pins and needles trying to make sure you're not making a mistake and give up a homer.

You just go out there and grind, no matter what the situation is, no matter what's in front of you. You don't get too high, you don't get too low. You try to be as even keel as possible so you execute the next pitch. It is what it is. We won the game. That's all that matters.

Q. Chris Taylor, there have been a lot of ways the team has talked about him, whether it's the MVP of this team, a Swiss army knife, the glue that keeps everyone together. What were your emotions to see him end the game today?

MAX SCHERZER: I was standing next to Joe Kelly there in the ninth, and for me I was like, hey, I think Belly is going to get on here and then CT is going to hit a homer. I'm telling Joe that, and -- we watched Belly take some tight pitches and draw a walk, and you see them bringing in Alex.

I was like, man, this is the matchup -- I actually thought he was going to hit a homer on a fastball, but that puts it in perspective that he was able to hit the slider for a homer. I had that vision for him. I've played with him and faced him and seen all this. I was like, this is the right man for the right spot that he's going to put a good swing on it, and sure enough, he did.

Q. Before the game Dave said that he didn't know when it was going to happen. He couldn't predict when it was going to happen, but you had made an impact in the postseason. Could he have predicted this was the way it was going to go in the postseason?

CHRIS TAYLOR: No, probably not. I know obviously it's a little different not starting the game. I was just trying to stay ready off the bench. I knew there was a really go chance I was going to come in at some point, just the way we operate. I was trying to be ready when my number was called.

These are the type of moments that you dream about and you live for, and to be able to look back on this for the rest of my life. I'm just fortunate that I was able to come through in that spot.

Q. Chris, when you think back to where you were five years ago coming over from the Mariners to where you are now, how do you kind of assess everything that's happened?

CHRIS TAYLOR: Oh, yeah. It's been quite a journey. You know, I think I am a believer that everything happens for a reason, and there's highs and lows. Everything I've been through, all the struggles, the successes, everything has brought me to this point.

I think this is right where I'm supposed to be, with this team, and I just -- I'm very fortunate.

Q. Dave came over to you afterwards (indiscernible) crowd. What was that moment like for you?

CHRIS TAYLOR: It was cool. It felt good to come through for him and the rest of the team, especially after the last couple months. It's been a grind for me. Obviously I haven't been playing my best, and to come through tonight, it felt really, really good. I know Doc was really happy for me, and I'm just glad I was able to come through for him.

Q. How is your neck feeling and how much have you had to deal with the last month or so?

CHRIS TAYLOR: It feels good. The last week or so it's felt a lot better. I felt like I haven't been thinking about it when I'm playing, which is good. Yeah, I feel like it shouldn't be an issue going forward.

Q. Chris, this was a very close game until the end. What did you see from Reyes?

CHRIS TAYLOR: Yeah, they're a great team. Obviously they've been playing their best baseball, and they went on that huge winning streak to get to this spot. We knew it was going to be a battle coming in, and it was. It was hard fought all the way through the end. It was just a good baseball game.

Q. The at-bat, you got a couple sliders from them that were pretty good. Were you sitting on a slider at that point?

CHRIS TAYLOR: You know, after the first pitch, I knew there was a good chance I'd get another one. I was trying to -- once Belly got to second, I was just trying not to do too much and get a pitch -- I chased that first one in the dirt.

Kind of wanted to see it up and try to stay right center. He kind of left it over the middle of the plate for me and I was able to get it up in the air to left.

Q. How anxious are you guys to settle things head to head against the Giants?

CHRIS TAYLOR: Yeah, I don't know. I mean, I think we're enjoying this moment. You've got to take it one step at a time, of course, and we're enjoying this tonight. I'm sure tomorrow we'll fly to San Fran and get locked in for that series.

Q. (On Albert's hit in the ninth).

CHRIS TAYLOR: Yeah, he just missed it. I think his was probably hit harder than mine, it was just a little lower. I thought that was a great matchup for Albert, and he put a great swing on it, that's just how it goes sometimes.

Q. Did you get the hug from Albert after you got the home run?

CHRIS TAYLOR: I did. I think I got a hug from everybody.