NL CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES: PHILLIES VS PADRES

October 21, 2022

Bob Melvin

Citizens Bank Park

San Diego Padres

Postgame 3 Press Conference

Phillies - 4, Padres - 2

Q. How do you think Joe pitched, and could you talk about the mechanics of the sixth inning and leaving him in after Castellanos.

BOB MELVIN: I thought he pitched well. It was miraculous he got out of the first inning like he did. I thought Ruben did a great job calming him down.

I had Hill up for Stott after two outs and nobody on, and I thought Joe could get the next guy out.

Q. Was Garcia up in the beginning of that inning?

BOB MELVIN: Depending on where we went. Depending how the inning went. Once we got two out, it was going to be Hill for Stott.

Q. After you got through this game, what are your pitching plans for tomorrow?

BOB MELVIN: Clevinger is going to start tomorrow.

Q. What did you expect out of him, or what can be the best?

BOB MELVIN: We'll see how it goes, take it batter to batter.

Q. How much does it hurt to not have these options s on the bench? You have one left-handed batter, and when you spend him, he's done?

BOB MELVIN: We thought it was a pretty good matchup at the time. We feel we have a good lineup throughout, 1 through 9. In theory we don't need a lot of help. That's what our roster looks like.

Q. I know it just happened, but have you seen the replay of the Profar checked swing? What's your vantage point on it?

BOB MELVIN: Blocked out a little bit. Originally it looked like it might have gone. Go back and look at it, maybe the bat didn't get out there. It's a close call, tough one. But maybe not.

Q. At that moment in the game, I mean --

BOB MELVIN: It's a big moment obviously. That's two out, nobody on.

Q. Soto had a couple of plays in right field today. They were tough plays, the one liner in front of him, the one to his right. What do you make of the way he played those today?

BOB MELVIN: He was trying to be aggressive. Those are tough plays. 50-50s, both of them. In a scenario like this, he's trying to get to the ball, make a big play, and get an out.

Q. Early on was the plan to sort of wait out Suarez and see how his command was? Just kind of a little bit of a passive approach early on.

BOB MELVIN: Yeah, he walked some guys, trying to get the ball up, not trying to hit it on the ground. He didn't end up walking anybody, so his command was pretty good. We only got two hits off of him regardless. We were trying to make him throw the ball over the plate.

Q. Can you talk to how much the crowd at Petco Park helped you guys the first couple of games and the Division Series as well. Is it the opposite when you come into a place like this and it's hostile towards you?

BOB MELVIN: I think it's beneficial for them. I think when you're on the road, you try to make it just end up being noise. When you're at home, you want to get some momentum from it. On the road, you're just playing. I'm sure it helped them, yeah.

Q. Were you surprised at all that Ranger Suarez came out after just five innings? Is there any silver lining that you got all three of their high-leverage relievers today?

BOB MELVIN: Yeah, maybe have them throw some pitches down at the bottom, sure, but I think that probably their plan today was to get five out of the starter and turn it over to the guys that they use in leverage situations.

Q. Do you have pitching plans for Sunday too yet, or is that still up in the air?

BOB MELVIN: Let's get by tomorrow, and then we'll figure out Sunday.

Q. Do you have an idea?

BOB MELVIN: Yes, I have an idea.

Q. If it stays in rotation?

BOB MELVIN: Yeah, we'll see how it goes.