NL CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES: BRAVES VS DODGERS

October 17, 2021

Eddie Rosario

Ozzie Albies

Truist Park

Atlanta Braves

Postgame 2 Press Conference

Atlanta Braves - 5, Los Angeles Dodgers - 4

Q. Eddie, you talked about how you had never gotten to this round. What does this mean to have this moment at this stage of the postseason?

EDDIE ROSARIO: It's huge. It's very important for me. It's unbelievable for the team. I think this is something that, you, know we all have that dream, that desire to get to the World Series and for me it's especially large and I think that's just what we're going for.

Q. They bring in Kenley there to face you. What are you thinking when you go up there? Are you going to be aggressive and first pitch if it's hittable you're going to go for it or what's your mindset there?

EDDIE ROSARIO: I feel great today and when I feel great I go aggressive all the time. I know that I faced him yesterday. He got me out. But I don't want to try too much today. Yesterday I tried to hit a homer and today I'm going to try to hit a base hit.

Q. What can both of you guys say about Ron Washington at third base, how aggressive is he and do you guys like that he is so aggressive?

OZZIE ALBIES: Oh, that's huge. We love the aggressiveness because that's how you're going to go for scoring runs. If you playing scared you're never going to push the guys to score the important runs for the team.

Q. Ozzie, you guys led 2-0 last year too. Aside from the location, how does this feel different?

OZZIE ALBIES: It's feeling we have a great team and we trust each other and we feed off each other. And so it feels great to have those momentum like Eddie came up huge tonight, with Riley, and that's what we do.

Q. Ozzie, when your GM went out and got all those outfielders before the end of July, what kind of tone did that set for this group for the rest of the way and what kind of impact of guys like Eddie and Joc made for this team?

OZZIE ALBIES: Yeah, we saw a difference right away. The team clicks more and we started playing better ball games and that's one of the main reasons we are here today.

Q. Did you feel so comfortable at the plate this evening that you felt comfortable enough to answer questions in English in the postgame interviews without the translator.

EDDIE ROSARIO: Yes. They keep asking me to do it in English and I try to oblige. Sometimes I don't do it to make sure I don't say anything incorrect.

But as far as being in these moments I'm taking advantage of these opportunities that are going to be given to me in terms of playing in the World Baseball Classic and other big moments and I make sure I don't panic in any of these big moments.

Q. Eddie, as one of those four outfielders they brought in here, what did you think that the impact would be of, collectively of all four of you guys and how much of a lift did you think that you could give to the Braves once you got healthy?

EDDIE ROSARIO: To be honest, it was a competition at first. All four of us showed up and I think we all wanted to get some playing time and be in the lineup. And obviously the three or guys they were having success on the field, so for me it was definitely a little bit of a sense of urgency to kind of push the envelope a little bit and try to work my way into the lineup as much as possible.

And fortunately I was able to have some success at the end of the season and I think I was able to sort of work my way into the starting lineup and just, I think then we kind of all, since we all had the same goal and motive of helping the team in any way that we can.

Q. Eddie, it seemed like there were a few moments for you today where it was decided by like two inches. The Turner ball that you caught, did you think that was out?

EDDIE ROSARIO: Albies tell me he's scared and then when he see the ball in the air, but it stay in the field. It stayed in the field, good for the team, good for everybody.

Q. And then the one the walk-off that was so close to the glove, did you think that was caught?

EDDIE ROSARIO: When I hit it, I hit good contact, but I see in the middle, I say, oh, but he missed the ball. That's it, a walk-off.

Q. Ozzie, obviously you came up through the system. You've been here throughout this whole process, and then you get Eddie and these other guys come in and they have been here about two and a half months. What can you say about the way that the fans have reacted to them, you could really sense it in the game tonight, but all through this postseason.

OZZIE ALBIES: Yeah, they came in right after the first half. I mean, for us it was already that we play against each other. We kind of know each other a little bit. We say hi to each other before games, during the game.

But for the fans to cheer them on like they already been playing here for years, it's awesome. It's great to have that chemistry and the fans bringing all the good energy for us and for them.

Q. Has Ronald's presence in the clubhouse in the dugout helped motivate the team these two games?

OZZIE ALBIES: Obviously yes, he's a huge part of our team and his energy and his motivation and everything and obviously we enjoy having him around.

Q. Also, when you scored, did you think -- that was so close -- did you think that you might be out when you were running?

EDDIE ROSARIO: I was scared a little bit, but I don't know that the ball is right there in the infield, I think this ball is in the outfield, when I see the ball is coming. But I did a good job on the slide. I did a really good job.