NL DIVISION SERIES: PHILLIES VS BRAVES

October 14, 2022

Aaron Nola

Citizens Bank Park

Philadelphia Phillies

Postgame 3 Press Conference

Phillies - 9, Braves - 1

Q. You've been on a big run here. Was tonight more special because it was your first playoff game at home in front of a crowd like that? What were you thinking when you got that ovation when you came out in the seventh?

AARON NOLA: It was awesome. It's been a while since we've been in the playoffs here, obviously. And to see the fans like what they were tonight is awesome. The hitters, what they did tonight as well, just sparked it up even more, in my opinion. It's a fun night and it's a great team win right there.

Q. What were you thinking when you were walking off?

AARON NOLA: The ovation, just kind of bummed I didn't get that -- Arcia out there. He put a big swing on a cutter, didn't get away enough. But it was pretty cool that the fans, they stood up for me right there. It was awesome.

Q. You've been on this roll. And this is a Braves team that you face a lot all the time. Faced them more than any other team. Does that change the way you attack a team going in like this?

AARON NOLA: Not really. The plan is to get the lead-off guy out and really execute all my pitches as best I can. I know they're going to be aggressive up there. And faced them a lot. They know all my pitches. I know them as well. It just comes down to executing.

Q. You had to answer questions about September the last few years. In October, you haven't allowed a run yet in three starts. What has this month been like for you? And when you look back at how far maybe you've came from the way (indiscernible) how to now finish the season?

AARON NOLA: I don't really hang my head on my Septembers. I just try to go out and stay focused and not try to be anybody I'm not and try to make my pitches. I feel like I've had some bad starts then and some bad luck as well, but it's a new month.

I try to treat it the same just as I do every other start. Try to treat tonight just like every other start. Try not to be anybody I'm not. Try not to do anything I'm not capable of doing or haven't done all year. Just to be myself.

Q. Did any former teammates that were on the last time the Phillies made a postseason reach out to you, anyone that you played with leading up to this?

AARON NOLA: I honestly haven't checked. I hadn't checked yet. I hadn't checked my phone yet about that. It's cool seeing on the video board some former guys that played for the Phillies and World Series team over here, so it was pretty cool.

Q. Were you able to talk to someone like Rhys about what this all meant, being through some rebuilding kind of teams to get to this point?

AARON NOLA: I didn't talk to him tonight. What a game by him. It's awesome. Obviously we talked when we clinched, the wild card. And clinching St. Louis, gave each other big hugs.

Like I said, we've been on some teams that lost a lot and kept inching our way up. Every spring training, the team's getting better. The guys getting better, getting closer as a group. And finally made that push this year. It's been fun so far. But we've got tomorrow to take care of.

Q. Speaking of Rhys, what did you think of his bat slam after the home run?

AARON NOLA: I was down in the tunnel actually. But that was awesome. I feel you don't see that too much when they intentionally walk somebody in front of you and the next pitch hit a homer. I think that sparked everybody. So happy for him right there. Big hit right there. I think that sparked the big rally.

Q. Their first inning, they get three guys on, you have that eight-pitch battle with Olson before he gets on. You got out of that inning throwing 16 pitches. How big was that paying big dividends later?

AARON NOLA: Very big, those guys are good at putting pressure upon pressure. They have guys that steal bases when they get on. I was just trying to make good pitches right there and try to let them keep the ball in the infield. But worked out well, got out of the inning.

Q. What do you think it is about Rhys that he's able to handle some adversity and come through in moments like that? He has the grounder in Game 2, then comes back here and gets the hit of the game in Game 3?

AARON NOLA: He just keeps pressing. He don't ever hang his head. I've been with him quite a while. I never see him hang his head, no matter what the outcome is. Or if he made an error on first base, doesn't matter.

He's always pushing through, always has that confidence that he's going to make the next play, going to get the next hit. It doesn't really surprise me what he did tonight.

Q. I know you were down in the tunnel for Rhys' home run, but as that inning's playing out, six runs, pitching change, long layoff, I'm sure you will take the six runs going back to the mound in the fourth inning. How did you stay locked in and how did you stay locked in with the third inning playing out?

AARON NOLA: I was trying to stay loose after a while. I stretched a little bit and riding the bike a little bit just to stay loose. A little chilly tonight. Long innings like that you can get a little bit tight and tighten up. But I felt like I stayed loose pretty well.