MLB WORLD SERIES: ASTROS VS BRAVES

October 27, 2021

Jose Urquidy

Jose Siri

Jose Altuve

Minute Maid Park

Houston Astros

Postgame 2 Press Conference

Houston - 7, Atlanta - 2

Q. Houston Astros punched out 7 in the game and strike -- and walked none. How does it feel to be part of that history of the Astros?

JOSE URQUIDY: I just found out about that actually. I'm very, very happy, very proud. More than anything, just happy that the team won today, happy for the guys, and we've made it a really good series now. So just really happy and really proud of the work and getting prepared of what's coming next.

Q. What can you say about the offense?

JOSE URQUIDY: Yeah, they set it on fire tonight really. Really happy with the job that those guys did. They made it a really good series, and I think we're all just ready and focused for what's coming next in Atlanta and winning out there.

Q. Just talking about some hard contact that you received when you were ahead in the count with two strikes. Why do you think that's happened, and is there anything that can be done to change that?

JOSE URQUIDY: I work, first of all, obviously to get ahead in the count and trying to get two strikes, but I really focus on trying to put guys away and finish batters as well.

I feel like when my body's in rhythm, I'm going well and throwing towards the catcher. Sometimes it's difficult for me to throw pitches outside the zone, but it's something I'm definitely focusing on is trying to finish batters as well.

Q. What adjustments did you make after your last start in Boston, and what do you think were the biggest differences in your performance tonight compared to the last one?

JOSE URQUIDY: I was trying to be in the zone. I was trying to compete. I was trying to get more confidence in my staff, in my off-speeds and my fastball. I was trying to compete, trying to put hitters away.

It doesn't matter if I get walks or homers. It doesn't matter. I have to do my job. But I did a couple of adjustments there, especially throw strikes.

Q. Two years ago, you guys went on the road for three, four, and five and swept all three against the Nationals. What was the mentality going into those road games, and how can you try to maybe recapture that going into these road games?

JOSE URQUIDY: Our mentality is win and win for sure. We know that we are facing a hard team over there, but we have to do a good job there for sure. I mean, we are very focused on winning and finish the series over there.

JOSE SIRI: For sure, for sure.

Q. Why do you think your change-up was so effective tonight, particularly against left-handed hitters?

JOSE URQUIDY: I was spinning. I was spinning that pitch. I was trying to throw more hard the pitch for a moment, and I think that's helped me a lot. I was trying to put more speed on my fastball, and I would try to spin the change-up that way.

Q. What were you seeing on the play you went first to third with a pretty aggressive run there? How did that unfold? What were you seeing? And then what was it like when you scored and that moment like with the crowd? It seemed to be a pretty special moment.

JOSE SIRI: I'm an aggressive player. I'm always looking for the opportunity to take the extra base. So that's just what I was doing in that situation, was trying to be aggressive and get to the next one. I was just really excited for the situation, but not nervous.

Q. What does it mean to be the first Mexican to own two World Series wins?

JOSE URQUIDY: It means a lot for sure. I didn't know that. Somebody told me that I was the first Mexican to get two wins in a World Series. I'm very proud of that. I want to still work to being in a World Series. I will try to win for sure. I will try to compete. It's something that I had worked for a long time when I was playing in Mexico. I'm living the dream.

JOSE SIRI: For sure.

Q. Jose Siri, when you came across the plate, you were yelling pretty loudly. Do you remember in the excitement what you were yelling there?

JOSE SIRI: Yeah, I was just screaming vamos, vamos, let's go, in that situation. Those are moments that you really have to live. You have to live those moments because it's not something that happens very often.

Q. Same question, first what it means to be the first Mexican player to have two wins in the World Series. And also the first time pitching at home in the World Series. You pitched last year in the postseason, but it was in San Diego.

JOSE URQUIDY: I didn't know that until just a little bit ago, and my teammates had told me.

As far as pitching here at home, it's really special for me. It means a lot and makes me very happy, just to be able to hear the music they put on for me. It really motivates me. I know there's a lot of Mexican people in the stands tonight that are supporting me. It makes me feel even more motivated and focused to do a good job, and it makes me really proud to represent the country that I'm from.

Q. What does it represent to have Jose Altuve on the team, and what does it mean for the team when he has a performance like he did today?

JOSE URQUIDY: He sets a really good example as a teammate. Even when he speaks to us or just watching him play, he sets a really good example, and he transmits really great energy and leadership to the team. So we just try to absorb as much of that as we can from him.

Q. This night is historic for you and for all of Mexico.

JOSE URQUIDY: Yeah, I dedicate a lot to my family. It means a lot to me that they were able to be here tonight. Just to have my mom here and to have my fiancee, to have them in the stands, it means a lot to me just to have them there supporting me. I really dedicate this performance to them tonight.

Q. What does it mean to play in this first World Series and to score a run in a World Series game for the Astros?

JOSE SIRI: I feel really proud of being here in the World Series. It means a lot, just like Urquidy said, just to have worked so hard to get here and battled so much to get to where we are.

I come from a place where a lot of people back in my hometown are waiting on somebody who can represent the hometown. It makes me feel proud and means a lot to me to be on this stage and representing my hometown.

Q. Obviously nothing can compare with the World Series, but you've played in big games before in the Caribbean Series. Anything you can take from those experiences that would help you in a game like tonight?

JOSE SIRI: I don't know what else I could tell you except for the games in the Dominican Republic are some of the most exciting that I've ever been a part of, being able to play for the Los Estrellas and also for the Gigantes. I don't get nervous thanks in part to that because I was able to play in those atmospheres in the Dominican Republic.

Q. Jose, what are you doing right there? What were you doing just there with his ring?

JOSE ALTUVE: He's just giving me his ring so I can flash, a little flash, bling.

Q. Dusty said a while ago that speed kills and that you have to be daring out there and can't be afraid to make mistakes. What do you think about that?

JOSE SIRI: I've never been scared, to be honest. I just have to give thanks to God that I've never had fear. I'm not scared.

Q. One other thing. You were in the Minor Leagues for so long and everything that you've been through. Have you had a chance to think about all your struggles and where you've been and here you are now playing a key role in the World Series?

JOSE SIRI: It means a lot. I've worked a whole lot to get here to the point that I am, and it means a lot for me. To have my family with me as well just means a lot, to have my parents and my brothers and my siblings with me. It just means everything.

Q. Altuve, the rally in the second inning, what did you think as you were watching that unfold, just putting the ball in play, a lot of singles? We're used to seeing this team hit a lot of home runs and balls in the gap, but you guys did things a little unconventional. What did you think of that?

JOSE ALTUVE: Oh, Jose Altuve. Obviously, every hit matters. I think I told Siri that his broken bat single, the way he run to first and then the first to third and the scoring was probably what gave us the win tonight.

He just -- like I said, plays hard every day. He brings energy to our team. He's just happy he had a good game and help us to win.

Q. You guys have had huge games in this ballpark in the playoffs before. Was there a special energy in this stadium tonight, just with the fans, not having the roof on, kind of almost playing at night which you never get to see this environment in October.

JOSE ALTUVE: It was a little different because the roof was open, but I would say it was a must win today. We didn't want to go to Atlanta down by two. So we left everything we had in there tonight. Obviously, very important win to tie the series to keep going from there.

Q. You've talked a lot about how when you're in the playoffs, you don't really care what your stats are or about the results you're getting just as long as the team is winning. For you individually, how difficult can that be to compartmentalize sometimes, and how are you able to put that behind you and come out and have a good game today?

JOSE ALTUVE: The only answer I have is for me the stats and playoffs don't matter because you're winning. You can be 0 for 20, but what about if you get the big hit? So that's what playoffs is about. I don't care I went 0 for 5 last night, but I didn't care. I show up today, try to get good pitches to hit, and I'm glad that I'm helping my team to win tonight.

Q. You tied Bernie Williams tonight for career postseason home runs. Did you get to see him play much when you were a kid?

JOSE ALTUVE: Actually, I did, yeah. Great hitter, obviously. To hit 22 homers in playoffs and tie him -- always every time that my name is mentioned next to -- before, it was Derek Jeter. Now it's Bernie Williams. It means a lot to me. It makes me keep going out there, hitting homers to help my team, to keep accomplishing things like this.

As long as we win, everything's good.

Q. In this run of yours in the last five years, you've won huge postseason games everywhere basically -- L.A., Boston, Washington three in a row, New York. What is this team's mentality when you take it on the road in the postseason, and has that changed this year at all?

JOSE ALTUVE: Nothing is easy in baseball, especially playoffs, but when you've been in situations before, you know how to handle it. So I know what my team is capable to do to win three in a row, to come back from things that we don't want -- like situations we wouldn't want to be, but we overcome those situations. We keep playing.

I think the key is nobody in the room is thinking about being the hero, thinking about hitting .300 or whatever in the playoffs. We just want to win. We're rooting for each other. I think that's the way we played tonight. You saw the result. It was a good win for us.

Q. Two questions. When do you remember starting to swing at the first pitch as much as you do? And when you are slumping, are you likely to swing more at the first pitch or less or no difference at all?

JOSE ALTUVE: I don't think that swinging at the first pitch depends on if I'm doing good or not. If I'm doing good, I want to swing. If I'm doing bad, I want to swing because it might be the only pitch I get. So it's not a secret I like swinging. I think I've been like that all my career. Sometimes more than others, but just keep swinging to make something happen.

Q. (In Spanish?)

JOSE SIRI: I'm always going to be ready for the opportunity. I never lost confidence in myself. I'm always ready for the opportunity to make an impact. Whether that be a couple days from now, Game 3, Game 4, I'm always going to be ready to make an impact.

Q. You guys play so well here in general. Did it seem crazy to you that you had lost five straight World Series games here? How important was it to break that?

JOSE ALTUVE: I think that's the thing about baseball. Nothing is guaranteed. Yeah, we lost four games in '19 here in a row. We lost yesterday, but we came back tonight and win. So we might go out there and win on the road, but nothing is guaranteed. You have to play the game. You have to play 27 outs and score one more run than them in order to win. So that's it.

Q. You've been around long enough, of course, that when you do go into a slump, you know how to get yourself out of it. I was wondering with Dusty as your manager, does he have any different things he'll say or talk to you about when you're not going well? What's different about him than any other manager?

JOSE ALTUVE: He just reminds you of the player you are, why you got here. One thing about him, he gives you a lot of confidence, and that's good coming from a manager. You want always your manager on your side, trusting you, encouraging you to go out there, and that's exactly what he does.

Q. You've been looking around the infield and seeing the same guys to your left and to your right in these kinds of games for a lot of years now. You've won a lot of postseason games. You've climbed a lot of all time lists together. Do you ever reflect on what you guys have done together as a group and whether you deserve a place -- let me put it this way. Have you thought about the place in history of your infield as a group?

JOSE ALTUVE: I think sometimes we fit each other, seeing stuff like everything we've been through, everything we accomplished together. Before we start this World Series, we were a little impressed about making the third appearance in the last five years and playing so many games together. Because Yuli, Alex, Carlos, and I, we played a lot of games together, and that means a lot.

We don't talk about history because there's a lot of great infielders, great players. Maybe one time we will, and you never know. But I'm happy to get to play with those guys and just keep winning games.