NL DIVISION SERIES: GIANTS VS DODGERS

October 11, 2021

Albert Pujols

Dodger Stadium

Los Angeles Dodgers

Postgame 3 Press Conference

San Francisco Giants - 1, Los Angeles Dodgers - 0

Q. You're one of the few to be able to get to Alex Wood this evening. What did you see from him that allowed you to get those two base hits?

ALBERT PUJOLS: Same thing. He knows his game plan and obviously we didn't execute well what we wanted to do. But, hey, he threw the ball pretty well. He got a couple gems and made some good pitches and got out of the inning.

But for myself I just tried to get a good pitch to hit and that was it.

Q. How much of a factor was the wind tonight? It looked like a couple of your guys hit balls that would have been out normally?

ALBERT PUJOLS: Hey, it happens. That's something that you cannot control. It's part of the game. You can't think it was cold. You can't think the wind. Hey, it is what it is, you know. So you can't blame it on the wind because we lost the game tonight. It's just part of the game, Mother Nature, and you have to respect that.

Q. What's it been like to be Max Scherzer's teammate these last couple months and what's it like to play behind him when he's pitching the way that he did tonight?

ALBERT PUJOLS: It's pretty awesome having an opportunity to face him and now having him on the team and playing behind him. It's just amazing how he goes about it, his preparation, his dedication, the passion and the love that he has for this game.

And the day that he pitches you can see it right away. He zooms in on what he wants to do and obviously we came sure tonight we were going to score some runs for him, but he threw a heck of a game for us, gave us an opportunity for us to win the game today.

Q. Where were you bottom of the 9th, and when that ball came off the Lux's bat, did you think that was out?

ALBERT PUJOLS: I think I was where I was supposed to be, in the dugout cheering on my guys.

Q. Did you think it was out?

ALBERT PUJOLS: Well he hit that ball pretty well. Until the ball goes over the wall you never know. He hit that ball really well. I think CT hit the ball really well. And it is what it is. It's just one of those, it's tough to swallow, tough game. We lost today but, hey, you need to flip that page and come back tomorrow and try to win again tomorrow.

Q. If you guys are going to advance, whether it's tomorrow or in Game 5, you guys are going to have to get a big start from Walker Buehler. What have been your impressions of him during your months here?

ALBERT PUJOLS: Walker is throwing the ball real well all year long. I think he's going to go out there and we expect the same thing. And I think as the offensive side our job is to score some points for him and hopefully take the pressure a little bit off him.

But I think he's going to do what he does all year long. He's going to throw the ball pretty well. I know he's coming on a short rest, but I think he's going to be pretty excited. The fans are really going to be really excited and hopefully we can push this game to Game 5 in San Francisco. But at the end of the day I think our job is to come tomorrow and just try to prepare ourself and go through our meetings, what we want to do, and do what we've been doing all year long. And like I say, it's just a tough loss today, but you just need to move forward.

Q. At this point in your career, it's been a long time, what has this run into the playoffs really mean to you?

ALBERT PUJOLS: I don't think about it. This is never been about me, it's about the organization that I represent. And having an opportunity to play for this organization over the last four months has been a blast. I enjoy every moment that I'm out there, I enjoy every moment that I'm in the dugout. And to have this opportunity to be in the postseason, obviously it's something really special. That's what every player that play in the big leagues hopes for, being one of those 18 to be able to be in the postseason, hopefully have a chance to win a championship. I think I'm in a good spot and I love this organization, I love everything that they offer to me over the last four months. And I think from the leadership from the top to the bottom and then the guys in the clubhouse, it's just been amazing and it's been an amazing ride. So hopefully it's not done tomorrow, hopefully we can keep going and push this thing for Thursday and advance to the next round.