NL CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES: BRAVES VS DODGERS

October 17, 2021

Joc Pederson

Austin Riley

Truist Park

Atlanta Braves

Postgame 2 Press Conference

Atlanta Braves - 5, Los Angeles Dodgers - 4

Q. Joc, do you see something different about this team for the last three years, four years, they have always said something about never quit with Snit and that kind of stuff, how many late inning comebacks they have had, have you noticed something different about this team?

JOC PEDERSON: I think they have always been a really strong team and I think that when we're all pulling on the same string special things happen and you can see that we're doing that right now. There's no one person that has the pressure on their shoulders that they have to get the job done. It's a new person every day and that's what makes it special.

Q. Joc, they said you've got that clutch gene, Joctober, have you seen a couple of guys on this team that maybe are showing the same signs, Eddie Rosario and especially the guy on your right?

JOC PEDERSON: Yeah, definitely. It's fun to watch. And they got some stones, so they're coming up in big spots and that's what it takes to win ball games. Obviously you've seen people on the other side also are pretty clutch and are putting a lot of pressure on us. We get knocked down a few times, but we're able to grind back, get a guy on, get him over and then come up with a big hit. So it's pretty special.

Q. Austin, you guys were up 2-0 on these guys last year, besides the setting what's different this time?

AUSTIN RILEY: You know, I think just the momentum that we've built. Like you said, we were up on them 2-0 last year so it's like one of those things where you can't stop now, you got to continue to apply the pressure and come out every day and get after it. So I'm looking forward to the series or the next three games.

Q. Joc, you had that one just foul on your first at-bat. What were you seeing off Scherzer that allowed to you connect really twice well?

JOC PEDERSON: Just looking for a pitch over the plate. They have really good pitching and don't make too many mistakes, so just trying to capitalize on the opportunities that are presented.

Q. Austin, you just mentioned being up 2-0 last year and you can't stop now. Is that something that you guys talk about amongst yourselves or is it just something that's sort of unspoken that you all remember and know about?

AUSTIN RILEY: I think it's one of those things where it's just, it's in the back of your mind, they're a really good ball club, they're never out of it until the last say. So it's just one of those things where we got to go there, play our ball game that we're capable of playing and see how things go. Like I said, I like where we're at right now, so it should be a good matchup.

Q. Joc, social media went a buzz of the dugout shot of you after the two-run homer. I mean is that just, is that just who you are or is it just caught up in the excitement of the moment?

JOC PEDERSON: I guess caught up in the excitement of the moment, I don't really know or have been on social media to recall what you're saying, but it was pretty exciting and tied up the game and got the boys back in it, so just doing everything I can to help the team win.

Q. Joc, being on the other side of this series this year, do you, does the fact that you're doing this against your former teammates fuel you or at some level do you have to like turn it off, sort of calm down and just be in the moment?

JOC PEDERSON: Not really. I think that this is a lot bigger than me, this is 25 of us pulling and have one common goal. Obviously I've been a part of the Dodgers for a long time and they're a really good team and organization, but right now they're in the way of our common goal so we kind of have to do whatever we can to win ball games and, yeah.