AL DIVISION SERIES: GUARDIANS VS YANKEES

October 15, 2022

Steven Kwan

Oscar González

Amed Rosario

Progressive Field

Cleveland Guardians

Postgame 3 Press Conference

Guardians - 6, Yankees - 5

Q. What does it feel like to do this again with kind of your style? I mean, killing them with singles, just the way you were rewarded for that?

STEVEN KWAN: I think it's really rewarding. We obviously have a different style of baseball. To see that succeed and see that prevail I think is, like I said, really rewarding for the game. It shows we're not going to change our game style for anybody. As long as we keep rolling, we can do it.

Q. Just seeing Oscar do this again, I mean, you're almost like wow?

STEVEN KWAN: Yeah. I mean, I think it's crazy when you kind of expect something like that to happen. I mean, he's always so calm in those positions. He never gets too high or too low no matter what the count is. No matter what the situation is, he's the same hitter. He thrives in those moments. That's the guy you want in the moment.

Q. Oscar, can you take us through the at-bat and did you feel any pressure, just like, you know, and how it turned out?

OSCAR GONZALEZ: Not any type of pressure. Just trying to put the ball in play and get the ball out and just like just excited have it happen.

Q. Oscar, 5-4, two outs, bases loaded. You've always said it's a kids game. Does have SpongeBob SquarePants calm you down in a situation like that?

OSCAR GONZALEZ: Yeah, I mean, as soon as I start getting off the deck, I just thank God for another opportunity to get to the plate, but I keep going. I go there singing the song because I have a big body, but deep inside I feel like a kid.

Q. Question for the group. What was the feeling in the dugout going into that ninth inning, and did Straw's hit kind of perk things up a little bit?

AMED ROSARIO: Actually, I was sitting next to Oscar. We were talking. Actually, before it happened, we talked about it. It's a crazy thing, we talk about if Straw gets a base, we'll get this game turned around.

Q. You guys faced Schmidt, but did it help having seen Schmidt yesterday and knowing what he looks like and how he's looks throwing balls and pitch-wise?

OSCAR GONZALEZ: I mean, I didn't face him so I don't know exactly what he was doing. But I think it happened because it was meant to happen.

Q. Steven, you refer to this style of offense that you guys have used all season and was certainly on display tonight. Of course, a lot of it is your individual skill sets and how you all play the game. What does a game like this say about your overall mentality and everybody being willing to do what the game gives you and be willing to pass the baton to the next guy?

STEVEN KWAN: I think that comes from just believing in your teammates. I think if we play selfish baseball, somebody has to feel like they've got to win the game by themselves, hit the three-run homer to win the game. Because we love each other and care for each other, we know as long as we get the next guy up, someone will get the job done. Unselfish baseball, moving the chains, and luckily it worked out.

Q. Oscar, are you still wearing Sandy's belt, and will he ever get it back?

OSCAR GONZALEZ: Yeah, I'm going to continue using it. Something tells me Sandy will never see it again.

Q. For the other two, do you feel like you're seeing Oscar, like, blossom into a star, like you've got a front row seat for something that could be special?

STEVEN KWAN: I played with Oscar in the minors from like AZL, Lynchburg. I always saw him hitting really well. To see him succeeding at this level is nothing new. I'm glad he's getting the attention he deserves. Anybody who's kind of come up in the minors through this organization knows this is what he does on a daily basis. I'm glad everybody is starting to realize.

AMED ROSARIO: Yeah, we always talk about that. I feel like he doesn't realize entirely how talented he is and the talent God has given him. So we keep talking about it. It's really nice to see he's getting the results. It's very clear the talent that he has.

Q. Amed, could you share anything else you guys were talking about before that?

AMED ROSARIO: No, we just -- kind of the same I was telling. I was telling we're going to load all the bases and then we're going to win the game. He says no, no. I'm going to finish the game. I'm going to win the game.

Q. Oscar, your three go-ahead hits in the ninth inning or later are now tied for the most in postseason history. The other player you tied was David Ortiz, who did it in 2004. What does that mean to you?

OSCAR GONZALEZ: It's incredible. I didn't know about that stat, and I just thank God for that and what makes it more special is it's from another fellow countryman.

Q. What were you guys thinking as you saw Oscar's hit?

AMED ROSARIO: I mean, I was on second base. I didn't have much time to think. I was trying to make sure -- I was trying to get home. Maybe you can ask Kwan.

STEVEN KWAN: I have the same answer. I just want to make I touched home plate. No shenanigans. Just make sure you touch home and then tell them to slide on the throw coming in.

Q. Oscar, what were you thinking?

OSCAR GONZALEZ: The only thing I was waiting for Amed so, of course, I would be able to join the guys and celebrate.