AL CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES: YANKEES VS ASTROS

October 22, 2022

Alex Bregman

Christian Vazquez

Yankee Stadium

Houston Astros

Postgame 3 Press Conference

Houston Astros - 5, New York Yankees - 0

THE MODERATOR: We'll take questions for Alex and Christian.

Q. Christian, you had a great game. Could you take us through the 6th inning when you had the two-run single?

CHRISTIAN VÁZQUEZ: Yeah, I saw that at-bat with Mancini and he was throwing a lot of sliders, so I was sitting on it and it was a good swing and it was a big knock for the team.

Q. With Bader it seemed like you already knew he was going to steal because you threw him out. Could you talk us through what you went through with Bader?

CHRISTIAN VÁZQUEZ: Yeah, it was a big out for us. I think we shut down the momentum from them. It was awesome. It was very emotional and very fun.

Q. Alex, the teams at this time of year typically don't make a whole lot of mistakes, but you guys have really been able to exploit them at times when they do. Just how big was that play out there in center field and for Chas to come through right after for you guys?

ALEX BREGMAN: Well, I think our team has been really focused on just trying to put together good at-bats and pass the torch to the next guy and just try and simplify things. We know that we're facing an incredible pitching staff. I think Chas did a great job of putting a good swing on a pitch. I feel like as an offense that's what we're trying to do.

Q. Christian, what did you see from Javier tonight and just in working with him more and more over the course of the season, how does you guys getting more comfortable with each other help in a situation like tonight?

CHRISTIAN VÁZQUEZ: Yeah, it was electric, the fastball, you know, the slider. He was throwing so good. There was a lot of swing and miss. It was awesome. All the time I caught him it's fun to watch him and caught him.

Q. Christian, how much did it help you that, you obviously know this Yankees team and this lineup very well, in your preparing for this game?

CHRISTIAN VÁZQUEZ: Yeah, I seen them a lot with Boston and then it's more easier to call a game when you know everybody and the pitching staff we have here it's more easier.

Q. You had some big postseason games, the walk-off last year. How does this game maybe compare to some of your other ones?

CHRISTIAN VÁZQUEZ: Every postseason win is awesome. We're one win away to a World Series and we can't be more happy than to be here and play with this team. Great, great staff.

Q. Alex, could you talk with the job Christian did behind the plate?

ALEX BREGMAN: Yeah, he was unbelievable behind the plate. I thought he called a great game. I thought he got Javy to execute, and Javy did a great job of executing, and then came up with a huge, huge base hit to add insurance. Both him and Trey adding that insurance runs there. I think it was the 6th inning. It was big. Not to mention a great throw defensively. So it was a great all-around game for him. I was super happy for him.

Q. Christian, to follow up, you have been the Yankee nemesis for years. I'm just wondering how you feel about beating the Yankees once again?

CHRISTIAN VÁZQUEZ: Yeah, like I said, it's fun to win in the postseason. Every win matters. Like I said before, we're one win to go to a World Series. So we will get after it tomorrow and we got five more wins to get a championship.

Q. For both of you, when in the 2nd inning you get the home run right after the dropped fly ball, do you have a feeling that things are going to break your way the rest of the game?

ALEX BREGMAN: I think just stay focused, keep worrying about the next pitch. The next pitch is the most important. We know that they got a great ball club, so offensively we got to try and add on, and we got to play good defense behind our staff.

Q. How did the exaggerated celebration for Chas's home run extend from the fans to you guys in the dugout?

ALEX BREGMAN: I think Chas, we noticed it in like May or something, I think. It started off with like a few fans and then slowly but surely a lot more fans got into it. So before the postseason started, Chas went and spoke to a bunch of people, a bunch of fans, and they started doing it again, so we just were doing it for Chas.

Q. It seems like keeping your foot on the gas is so much easier said than done at this time of year. But what have you seen from your teammates to just one guy after the other just keep that intensity throughout every game and every pitch?

ALEX BREGMAN: I think everybody's just trying to do their job. Be a good teammate. Show up to the field every single day, work hard, continue to play hard, work hard. We know there's going to be ups and downs throughout the postseason because we're playing against such great teams. We just got to keep staying focused and keep playing and keep having fun too. We're getting to play the best game in the world. So we're having a blast and we just got to keep focused.

Q. Christian, knowing your experience before in the postseason what advice do you give to Javier today?

CHRISTIAN VÁZQUEZ: I think that he pitched before in the World Series too and I think he got experience too to be calm on the mound and attack hitters. I think that's key for him to attack hitters and put them away. His pitches are so good that we can find strikeouts.