AL DIVISION SERIES: RAYS VS RED SOX

October 7, 2021

Randy Arozarena

Wander Franco

Tropicana Field

Tampa Bay Rays

Postgame 1 Press Conference

Rays 5, Red Sox 0

Q. Randy, can you walk us through the decision and to get the green light to steal home?

RANDY AROZARENA: I noticed that the pitcher wasn't really watching for me or covering for me, and I saw the third baseman was pretty far away in respect to where I was at. I was looking over to Linares, telling him, hey, I'm going to go, I'm going to go. Peeked over and saw Cash give him the green light as well, so that's when I decided to take off.

Q. When one has a game like this, how do you top it tomorrow?

RANDY AROZARENA: I think tomorrow is going to be a completely different day. You start new. You start at zero. You start with a whole other pitcher, a whole 'nother ballgame. I do try to remember what I did today, but at the same time it's a whole 'nother ballgame, and I'm just here to bring 200%.

Q. Just a quick one to Wander: Wander, obviously, you are still a rookie, and so is Randy. How was it to perform the way, with no experience, to perform the way you did today?

WANDER FRANCO: I think if you leave it to the hands of God, He is the one that helps with the talent. You know, He actually says, if you believe in the faith, you can move any mountain. So I'm glad I was able to help out the team in any way I can today and get the win.

Q. Randy, what's the feeling when you go out to left field and all the people are chanting your name in between innings? What runs through your head at that moment?

RANDY AROZARENA: I'm very happy for the way they received me and the way that they're always supporting out there. You know, I go out there because I'm trying to give them a show, and I know they want to see something. That's what the game is for. They want to win. We want to win. They're just as anxious to go out there and compete just like we are. So I give credit for them for showing up and always supporting us and myself.

Q. You also wore your cowboy boots before the game. Was this to remind you of last year? Was it superstition? What went behind that decision?

RANDY AROZARENA: I put the boots on before the game today, just like I did before the first game of the playoffs last year, and in that playoff game against the Yankees I hit a home run. So I hit a home run today, so that just shows that the magic is working from the boots.

Q. Randy, you guys did so much well during the season. Did tonight kind of feel like a Rays game during the regular season where everything worked, and what was the best part of that?

RANDY AROZARENA: Although we won 100 games in the regular season, I think the playoffs is still a whole other game. You know, it doesn't matter who you are on this team, someone is going to participate. So as a player and as a teammate, you always got to be ready to be able to support your team and to be able to support the teammate right next to you.

Q. Randy, I was going to say you told us the other day you're focused on the ring, that's the most important thing, but if you could repeat part of last October or get there, you would be happy with that. Was tonight a good start?

RANDY AROZARENA: Like I said before, 2020 was last year. 2021 is this year. We have different goals. We want to go out there and win and get that ring. You know, it's a different mentality than we had last year, but, you know, we are still the same team, and we're still here to work double and try it on get the results that we want.

MODERATOR: Congratulations. Thank you very much for coming in. See you tomorrow. Appreciate it.

RANDY AROZARENA: Thank you.

WANDER FRANCO: Thank you.