MLB WORLD SERIES: ASTROS VS BRAVES

November 2, 2021

Max Fried

Minute Maid Park

Atlanta Braves

Postgame 6 Press Conference

Atlanta - 7, Houston - 0

Q. What does it mean to be a winning pitcher in the clinching game of the World Series?

MAX FRIED: It's indescribable. It's something you dream about as a kid. Something you always want to happen and you dream about, and to be able to kind of have this moment, it's really special.

But to be honest, I just got lucky that it was -- today was the day. We have a bunch of guys that really -- I don't know. All those guys in the clubhouse over there deserve this. It's so awesome. Just couldn't be happier for everyone.

Q. Could you talk about getting through that first inning. I'm guessing that was quite a good moment for you tonight.

MAX FRIED: Obviously, Brantley stepped on the back of my leg, and at that point, the only thing I was worried about was first and second, nobody out, and I didn't want the inning to get out of hand.

For me, I didn't want to have a repeat of Game 2 where four runs come across and you look up and you're down by a lot. So I just knew that I had to really just bear down and try to get out of it with at least one run. Lucky enough to get out of it with none.

Q. Max, you pointed straight down to your foot right away, but I know that you were pointing he stepped on your foot and not on the base. How does your foot feel? Did it hurt at all? Because you went through and you returned, I guess, 18 outs in 19 batters after that.

MAX FRIED: It didn't feel good, but at that point, it's the World Series. You just got to figure out how to get through. Yeah, initially, I just knew that he stepped on my leg. I thought that he had not maybe hit the bag. If we could steal an out there, it would be huge.

It was more of it got tight, but it was never any shooting pain or anything too severe or uncomfortable.

Q. How big of a lift was Soler's homer to give you that lead?

MAX FRIED: At that point, it's obviously a tight game, 0-0, trading zeros. For him to get into one and give a little bit of a cushion, it just allows me to go out there and just be a little bit more aggressive. I'm attacking hitters. The solo homer doesn't beat you anymore. It's just' more about not giving free base runners, and honestly just wanted to have them earn it.

Q. Did you know that Lucas and Jack were coming today, and have you seen them yet?

MAX FRIED: I have not seen them, but I did know they were coming. They let me know that they were going to be flying out.

Q. Freddie shared -- he said he shared a moment with you and all that. What did it mean to you, and what did he say to you, and just how did that go?

MAX FRIED: He just -- it's just one of those things where you know how much that he's been going through, just from the beginning of going through the rebuild to winning the division and then winning it four times and getting to the playoffs, getting past the first round, and then eventually World Series champion.

He sent me a really, really awesome text message this morning that was just a big boost of encouragement, just saying that he believed in me and that he knew that I could get this done. To be able just to have that support from someone like that, it made my confidence go up and just I knew that I had 25 other guys behind me that were just ready for me to get out there and go and just be myself.