NL DIVISION SERIES: GIANTS VS DODGERS

October 14, 2021

Darin Ruf

Logan Webb

Dodger Stadium

San Francisco Giants

Postgame 5 Press Conference

Los Angeles Dodgers - 2, San Francisco Giants - 1

Q. Darin, kind of all the talk after the game has been about that final call, that check swing on Wilmer. Did you see it? What was your view of it? What did you think?

DARIN RUF: I mean, at the time I didn't know, but obviously we've been able to see the replay and it didn't look like he went, but a check swing earlier in the year helped us out too. So it's kind of funny how it comes down to those two events. But, yeah, just, yeah.

Q. Logan, how did you feel out there tonight, in probably one of the biggest games of your career, how did you feel out there?

LOGAN WEBB: I felt good. Everything was kind of moving the way I wanted it to and, yeah, it was good. Buster caught a great game, so...

Q. Darin, were you maybe a little surprised that Urías threw you that fastball that caught so much of the plate that you were able to drive out to center field there?

DARIN RUF: I mean, he's kind of been attacking me with heaters most of the year, most of the time I faced him, so I swung at a first pitch changeup against him that first at-bat. So you know, I think as a pitcher, you then tend to think that maybe he's sitting on that pitch or not. So, no, it was really similar to my first at-bat in Game 2.

But once you get to a 3-2 count, you just hope to react, and I reacted on time and, yeah, put a good swing on it.

Q. Question for either of you, but Gabe just told us that he's really excited to build on the foundation that you guys built for next year. So I guess I'm curious, what about this team and this organization gives you confidence that you can repeat the success that you've had this year?

DARIN RUF: I just think from the top down of the organization, starting with people that we get to deal with, Farhan, Scott, it just, they know what guys to go after, like team guys, good people. That clubhouse in there is extremely special and it's because it's full of great people that you want to be friends with your whole life. When take the field with them, everyone's got your back, you know, everyone is pulling in the same direction and going to step up, step up for you if -- you saw examples of it all year. Guys go down, next guy steps up.

LaMonte Wade shows up in spring training and turns into one of the best players on the team. You have that confidence that going into spring next year, this whole off-season, things are going to work out. And we exceeded so many expectations this year that I think the bar's going to be raised for us going into next year and going into spring and early in the season. So we're not going to sneak up on anybody, but I know that the guys in that clubhouse are guys that are ready for that too.

Q. Logan, you know as well or better than anybody how tough it is to keep the Dodgers off the scoreboard. What's your thoughts about Camilo? Obviously you can throw good pitches and still give up runs. Having the ball in that situation, with all that pressure, what are your feelings for him right now?

LOGAN WEBB: Oh, man, the first thing I did was I went in and gave him a hug, just because he feels awful, which is kind of brutal because he pitched so good for us. He did so well, and for that to happen, like for him to be the guy who gave up the run, it just, it sucks.

But he's going to be a big part of this team for a long time and I think that's the first thing he needs to know is how big a part of the team that he's going to be in the future and to not let that get his confidence down because it's crazy to see how calm he is when he comes in the game and I don't think that's going to change, but I hope this doesn't get him down at all.

Q. Logan, you said before this series began you were going to treat the postseason start like it was any other game. You had two of the most epic postseason starts in the history of this game with some elite company. So what did you learn from it and what are your takeaways and what was it like going through this five-game series?

LOGAN WEBB: I learned that it's a lot of fun. The crowd was just awesome. That was really cool. Just being in the spot with our guys. We deserved this, to be here, and that was coolest part for me.

Unfortunately, it didn't happen the way we wanted it to end it and it really sucks. But it's just a lot of fun. I don't know really if I answered your question very well. But I couldn't be more proud of the guys in our room.

Q. Acknowledging that the Dodgers pitched very well throughout the whole series you guys had four runs in the first game and then didn't really mount much of an attack after that. How much did that have to do with them and how much of it had to do with you and how much of it had to do with breaks, balls hit at people and how do you kind of process all that?

DARIN RUF: Yeah, I mean, obviously, the arms that they have, every single at-bat, starting pitching, bullpen, are some of the most elite arms in the game. You just, you can have an approach, you can have a game plan, executing it against that level of ability is obviously very hard. I think we had great approaches, great game plans, obviously, yeah, you need balls to fall, you need breaks. I think I was talking to Susan the other day about that in a one-game-take-all it doesn't matter if you have great at-bats, you need positive results. And it's a jam shot that falls in the grass, it's not lining out, just things that -- ground balls that find holes, the things that it comes down to in a game like, this is a little bit of luck and that's part of your approach and things like that, if you have a good one, it will hopefully turn out on the positive end of things. But, yeah, I mean their arms are really, really good.

Q. Logan, obviously you went through, pitched well this game, but it seemed like Mookie Betts was that guy that even on good pitches he was able to get some hits off of you. What did you feel about facing him and what's your respect level for him?

LOGAN WEBB: He's one of the best players in baseball for a reason. He's a pretty incredible player and pretty incredible guy, honestly. So he did a good job, he kind of knew the way I attacked him the first game and he just, I tried to kind of do that the same way in this one and kind of just got to tip your cap, he's a special player and there's a reason why he's so special.

Q. For either one of you, Gabe said that the rivalry is healthy and well. Going into next year how motivated are you and what do you think about that comment about where the rivalry is and where it's going?

LOGAN WEBB: This won't be the last time we play them in the playoffs.

DARIN RUF: I'm shocked it was the first, but, yeah, I mean, yeah, what a series for the first time and, yeah, hopefully, I mean we don't plan on taking any steps backwards, so I know they don't, so, yeah, it will be hopefully fun for years to come.