MLB WORLD SERIES: ASTROS VS BRAVES

October 29, 2021

Tyler Matzek

Austin Riley

Eddie Rosario

Truist Park

Atlanta Braves

Postgame 3 Press Conference

Atlanta - 2, Houston - 0

Q. Eddie, just your perspective on the fly ball by Diaz? It looked like you pulled up because you thought you might run into Dansby Swanson. Is that what happened? Can you just take us through that play?

EDDIE ROSARIO: I started charging it hard right away, and I noticed Dansby was charging hard as well, and he had his back to the ball. Obviously, we're both trying to make a play on the ball. When I knew I had a beat on it, I was trying to say, "I got it, I got it."

Obviously, I knew Dansby couldn't hear me, so at the last minute, knowing we couldn't communicate, I wanted to make sure I avoided any collision between the two of us. So I just kind of eased up on it right there.

Q. Austin, obviously, it seems like every series here, almost every game, you've got some kind of big hit in the mix. You had a great season, so obviously you're just kind of carrying it over. Do you have a different feel in the postseason? What do you attribute to just kind of continually coming up in the clutch all through these playoffs?

AUSTIN RILEY: I think just sticking with my work that I do in the cage and doing my homework against the pitcher. You get into the postseason, and I feel like a lot of people want to change a little bit, trying to do a little extra, a little extra. And I just try to keep it as simple as possible, keep my approach through the middle. And I think that was the reason why I was able to stay on that slider right there.

Q. Obviously, you had a scorching series in the NLCS against the Dodgers, and the series hasn't yielded too many hits. Comment on what's been happening in the series so far.

EDDIE ROSARIO: Take it with tonight's starter, he wasn't really in the zone for first pitch strikes. I think for us in particular it was about us being patient for at-bats. I think with the Dodgers, the Dodgers really were aggressive on those first pitches and always tried to be in the strike zone, so it allowed us to be more aggressive in turn.

I think during this game, the mentality was to be more patient in those at-bats.

Q. Tyler, the night shift is going to have a lot of work these three nights. What have you guys talked about with that?

TYLER MATZEK: Nothing's changed for us. We're going to go out there and be aggressive. That's what we try and do, try and pound the strike zone, stay in good counts, and that's going to help us go deep in the game or be able to go two innings, three innings, four innings, whatever we need to do.

So it's just be aggressive, and we've got a great atmosphere down there. We're all going to do our part and go play the game tomorrow.

Q. For both of you guys, Austin and Tyler, what was it from your view watching Ian at 23 throw a no-hitter through five?

TYLER MATZEK: He was unbelievable. A young kid like that going out there and doing what he's doing, he's turned into an absolute animal, a beast in the playoffs. I don't think we get to the spot without him, and he's been just unbelievable.

AUSTIN RILEY: I think just the moment never gets too big for him. You wouldn't ever -- you look at him on the mound, you wouldn't think he's 23, a rookie in the Big Leagues and pitching in the World Series. He's just very calm, collected, and I think that goes a long way.

Q. Tyler, can you set the scene in the bullpen when you guys realize a no-hitter is being turned over to you guys in a World Series game?

TYLER MATZEK: Well, Luke Jackson didn't know, Minter didn't know.

(Laughter.)

After I got done with my inning, they said, did you know you gave up the first hit? Yeah, I did know. I paid attention. Like, oh, we just wanted to come in and get outs. So our job stays the same. Go out and get the three outs you're assigned, get off the field, and let the next guy come in and do his job.

So we're just focused on doing that, and I mean, it worked out.

Q. I'm sure you can remember a time when this never would have happened, when a no-hitter, especially in a game like this, would never have been put in the hands of a bullpen. How much weight, how much added weight is placed on you guys when this happens?

TYLER MATZEK: The no-hitter is cool and all, but what it comes down to is we want to win the game. That's what it's all about. Snit trusted the bullpen to come in and do our job. I think Ian probably would say the same thing. I mean, I'm sure he would have loved to go out there and try for a no-hitter, but I think he'd take the win every day of the week over a no-hitter because he's not a selfish guy.

He wants to win. He wants to go out there and win the World Series. And if it gives us a chance to do that, that's what he's going to do.

Q. How good does it feel, or how does it feel to have won the first World Series game here since '99 and get the first win by a Braves team here in more than a quarter of a century in a World Series game, take a 2-1 lead? How are you feeling in general?

AUSTIN RILEY: It's cool for sure. I think, more importantly for the fans, I think they've been through a lot. They've stuck by our sides when we weren't going so great. So it's really cool. The atmosphere was unbelievable, even with the conditions with the weather, they still brought it. You could feel them.

But it was great. There's still some unfinished business. Hopefully, I know they'll bring it tomorrow and get back after it.

Q. Before the game, this tribute salute to Hank Aaron, I know you did not live in his heyday at all, obviously, but did it move you at all? Your manager was quite moved by it. What did it mean to you to see this man saluted and what he's meant here?

TYLER MATZEK: Yeah, I'm just so glad that we were able to as an organization make it to the World Series. I think the All-Star Game being taken away from us, it was going to be a celebration of his life.

I think that us players in that clubhouse kind of felt like we needed to do something so that his life could be celebrated in some way on the biggest stage. Yeah, it's a little extra motivation just to go out there and show what the Braves are all about, and he was what the Braves were all about.

AUSTIN RILEY: I agree. Being able to meet him in person and spend a little time with him and shake his hand, it was one of those moments that gives you chill bumps just because, like I said, he's done so much for this game, even outside of baseball. He's moved a lot of people. So that was pretty special to sit there and watch that.

Q. Austin, Luke said that Ian's a 65-year-old soul. How was he when you first met him there in Double-A or whatever it was?

AUSTIN RILEY: He's always the same.

Q. He's always been 65?

AUSTIN RILEY: I think so. He's one of those guys that is there, is nonchalant. He's Ian. I think Screech is what they call him. He's a really good dude. To do what he did tonight was pretty cool.

Q. (In Spanish)?

EDDIE ROSARIO: My little boy, Lucas. He's a special boy. I love him. I do everything for him.

Q. How old is he?

EDDIE ROSARIO: Six years old.

Q. Tyler, since you did know your starting pitcher had a no-hitter through five, was there any time you were self-managing or self-thinking are we really taking out our starting pitcher with a no-hitter in the World Series?

TYLER MATZEK: No, there's a reason for it. The guys, the front office, Snit, everybody's gone over it a few times for what the game script is for us to win this thing. Obviously, the game script is right. We had a great tough game, and we came out on top. I don't second guess that at all.

Like I said, I'm sure Anderson would much rather take the win in the World Series than take the no-hitter or whatever. He just wants to win.

Q. This is for whoever had the best vantage point from where you were. What did you guys think of d'Arnaud's home run late in the game?

AUSTIN RILEY: He's a great fastball hitter, and that was big. It kind of gave Will a little bit of a comfort, give that extra run because, like I said, it's a good ball club. They can hit, and they can -- it's a lot like our lineup. It can change the game in one swing of a bat, so that was a big at-bat by him.

TYLER MATZEK: He said it was his first home run this year, so he was pretty pumped on that. That's what he was screaming in the clubhouse (laughter).

Q. Talk about Travis, not just how good he is behind the plate but managing the pitching staff as well.

EDDIE ROSARIO: Travis is a student of the game. He studies every hitter and knows how he wants to attack them. Yeah, he does a great job for us.