AL DIVISION SERIES: GUARDIANS VS YANKEES

October 11, 2022

Terry Francona

Yankee Stadium

Cleveland Guardians

Postgame 1 Press Conference

Yankees - 4, Guardians - 1

Q. What did you think of Quantrill tonight?

TERRY FRANCONA: You know, his line is not going to look as good because OF the last home run. I thought he was throwing the ball really well early. Made a mistake to let him back in the count and made a mistake that cost him a run. But I thought his stuff was good. I thought he threw his cutter, slider off of his fastball, especially early. Got Rizzo to 3-2 and threw him a cutter that didn't end up where it was supposed to.

Q. You guys had your chances early against Cole. What happened there, and how did he sort of settle down in your mind?

TERRY FRANCONA: I thought we did a really good job early of driving his pitch count up. And then he had a real quick fourth inning, that kind of got him back into the game where he was able to actually go out for the seventh. We had a real good opportunity with bases loaded and didn't cash in, so that doesn't help. But he's got pretty good stuff. I mean, you watch the game, he's got velocity. He spins the ball. Pretty tough to get a beat on him.

Q. You mentioned that fourth inning, Yankees made a couple of nice plays there. Yankees have not always been known for a team that plays great defense. Right now, they are a stronger defensive team. How much right now is that a part of what makes it difficult, their defense?

TERRY FRANCONA: That's part of why they are better than they were before. I hope it doesn't lead to a win the next game. They are a much better defensive team, that's for sure. That's stating the obvious.

Q. You mentioned driving Cole's pitch count up early. With the Yankees' questions in their bullpen, would you say that was a priority for your team tonight, and might be going forward?

TERRY FRANCONA: Well, the priority is to score and to stay ahead. But when we have at-bats like that, longer at-bats, that's a good sign. Just it would be nice to have some runs on the scoreboard also.

But, again, if he's at 60 after three, we're doing some things right. Just like I said, he had a quick fourth and kind of settled in and he's got kind of -- he can have overwhelming stuff. You know, he starts to speed you up and then he spins it. It can get tough.

Q. There was a lot of talk about how your young team would handle the atmosphere that is Yankee Stadium for a postseason game. Generally how do you think you guys responded?

TERRY FRANCONA: I get asked that like, once a week because everything we do is new, because they're young. I mean it was a fantastic atmosphere. I mean, I don't think there's anything wrong with being nervous, as long as it doesn't get in the way of what you're doing. Our guys, they like to play baseball. They just got beat tonight. We got beat tonight.

We'll come back again, hopefully in a couple days, and see if we can do better.

Q. Can you just talk about what a nice young player Kwan is?

TERRY FRANCONA: He is an extremely good young player, and probably an even better kid, which says a lot, because he's a really good player. I know it probably says rookie on whatever, but he's not. He's beyond his experience.