AL DIVISION SERIES: ASTROS VS WHITE SOX

October 8, 2021

Yuli Gurriel

Framber Valdez

Minute Maid Park

Houston Astros

Postgame 2 Press Conference

Houston - 9, Chicago - 4

Q. You had a tough day yesterday. Just how relieving was it for you to come through in that situation, especially after a kind of rough start to the series for you?

YULI GURRIEL: I didn't feel like I had a great day yesterday. There's been very few games in my career I feel like it was that poor. It's important for everybody to have a day, and together that's how we win games is everybody doing their part.

Q. Yuli, how would you describe this offense? It seems like everyone, 1 through 9, can cause trouble for the other team and just get hit after hit to help you all this time of year?

YULI GURRIEL: It's a lineup that's very balanced. We have a lot of guys in there that can really hit you well all the way through the lineup. I think the key for us today was hitting with runners in scoring position, which is what won the game for us.

Q. Framber, I just wanted to ask you, what did you think about your outing? How did you feel out there? Also, what was it like pitching in front of the Minute Maid crowd in postseason for the first time?

FRAMBER VALDEZ: Yeah, it felt really good to feel just the support from all the fans out there. It was really important for us, and it was a good game. I think the offense really took care of business. They were able to do what they needed to do to put up the runs and win that game for us.

Q. (In Spanish)?

YULI GURRIEL: Yeah, the White Sox have a really good team. It's not going to be a really seasy series where we're up all the time. We were down two times in the game today, but the important thing is we didn't let it change our mood in the dugout at all. We were able to stay level headed and come back and win the game.

Q. Yuli, and Framber as well, talk about where this team is, up 2-0, one game to advance to the ALCS.

YULI GURRIEL: I think we completed the objective, which was to win two games at home. Now we find ourselves in good position, on the front foot headed to Chicago. I think the important thing is we completed our objective to win these first two games.

Q. How much pride do you guys take in your defense? And Framber, how much did you love the defense today?

FRAMBER VALDEZ: I feel really good. I felt pleased with the defense I have behind us is a great defense. It makes me feel comfortable throwing my two seam and my curveball. I know I get a lot of ground balls on those pitches. I feel good to have defense like that behind me that's able to make plays on even the most difficult balls in play.

YULI GURRIEL: I think people don't always give the importance that they might need to for the defensive side of things. I think in the playoffs, especially, pitching and defense is what wins you games, and you need to have a good defense if you want to be able to advance in the playoffs.

Q. Yuli, you guys as an infield have been together for a long time. Do some of these plays that are being made, do they seem routine at this point, or are you still impressed by them?

YULI GURRIEL: We've been together for a while now, five or six years, but the truth is it still doesn't stop impressing me. The capability of the infield that we have is really an impressive infield that we have.

Q. Yuli, I have another one for you on defense. Who do you think, playing with these infielders, has improved the most defensively over the year? Also, same for you, how would you describe your progression on defense over the last few years where you feel like you've improved, and how has it gotten to that point?

YULI GURRIEL: I think I've gotten better defensively. It was a situation where I was a little bit uncomfortable at first playing at first, but I think I've gotten a lot better and feel a lot more comfortable playing at first. My teammates have always been great on the infield, I think. We really have, I think, the best infield in the Big Leagues.

Q. Framber, what did Dusty tell you when he came to get you in the fifth? It looked like he got you to laugh a little bit there.

FRAMBER VALDEZ: I'm always laughing. It's just something I do to relieve pressure and stress. So I think he just told me that I did the job that I could and let's keep focused on winning this game, and I'm just grateful for the opportunity.

Q. Yuli, a lot has been said about how great the infield is, but can you talk about the outfield? In particular, Kyle Tucker and the way he's played the last two days.

YULI GURRIEL: Tucker is incredible. He's not somebody who can just hit, he's an incredible athlete. He can do great things in the outfield as well. He really hasn't stopped impressing me, the growth that I've seen from when he first got to here up until now, it really is incredible. He's a superstar.