MLB WORLD SERIES: ASTROS VS BRAVES

October 26, 2021

Michael Brantley

Minute Maid Park

Houston Astros

Postgame 1 Press Conference

Atlanta - 6, Houston - 2

Q. How difficult is it to be fighting a 5-0 hole as early in the game as you guys were tonight? And then I know you had a good night on offense, but overall you guys really struggled in situations where throughout the year you usually come through. Why was that?

MICHAEL BRANTLEY: It's not ideal. We don't want to get behind early obviously. I still believe in this team and this lineup to come back from that. It's just one game. They played really well tonight, and we didn't. We'll go out tomorrow put our pants on, put our cleats on, and do it again.

Q. Michael, Framber said that you guys have already turned the page. What does your experience tell you about just moving past this quickly and turning your full focus to Game 2 here at home?

MICHAEL BRANTLEY: Yeah, that's what this team does so well. It's one game at a time mentality always. We lost tonight. We look forward to coming back tomorrow and then playing a better game and hopefully get a win.

Q. You did get a chance to see a lot of their bullpen. Just what did you take away from your at-bats against Minter and also against Matzek?

MICHAEL BRANTLEY: They're a great bullpen. We knew that coming into this series. They threw high leverage innings in the postseason to get here. It's going to be a battle all this postseason, but we look forward to it. We accept the challenge.

It's a great group. It's a great lineup, a great team. We'll bounce back.

Q. You were on deck when Morton had to come out of that game. What was your view of that? Could you tell right away that like something was seriously wrong with the guy?

MICHAEL BRANTLEY: Yeah, I saw him limp, and I have all the respect in the world for Chuck. He's a great, great human being, great pitcher, great person. You never want to see anybody get hurt. I hope he comes back well.

Yeah, I saw him when he threw the pitch, and he kind of pointed to the dugout. So that was tough.

Q. Michael, had you seen any signs like after that comeback from the previous inning that he was hurt before that final pitch when you were on deck?

MICHAEL BRANTLEY: No, I didn't. Not at all. The only thing I knew is they started warming up two guys in the bullpen. So I knew something had to be bothering him, but he came back out, and obviously he couldn't finish that inning. But that was the only sign that I got that something might have been wrong.