NL CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES: PHILLIES VS PADRES

October 22, 2022

Bob Melvin

Citizens Bank Park

San Diego Padres

Postgame 4 Press Conference

Phillies - 10, Padres - 6

Q. Bob, what was the struggle for Clevinger, and what kind of bind did that put you in?

BOB MELVIN: Look, just middle of the plate and didn't have his best stuff obviously. I had to take him out pretty quickly. Nick stabilized things but just couldn't get the ball where he wanted to. It ended up being a short night for him.

Q. Can you describe the challenge needing to win three games in the next three days?

BOB MELVIN: We only need to win one to get home. That's what we're concerned about tomorrow is winning one game. We have Yu on the mound. We have our best relievers available for multiple innings tomorrow, and our focus is to win one game and get it home.

Q. The decision to go to Manaea cover some innings, but to him in, I think, the 5th inning in for 2, 3, 4, what gave you the confidence?

BOB MELVIN: I was going to try to get him one time around the lineup. I thought his stuff was better. He had 95. He had swings and misses when he got into the zone, but he couldn't locate it.

The second inning, four batters, five batters, it happened pretty quickly.

Q. Did Clevinger's injuries have anything to do with this?

BOB MELVIN: I don't know. I think he had a good week. He's been battling stuff all year. I think he felt good going into that game.

When you're down for a while, a little inactivity, maybe sometimes it's tough to locate. I think that was the case for him today, but I don't think he'll use it as an excuse.

Q. Would it be a possibility that you'd have a new pitcher on the roster tomorrow?

BOB MELVIN: You know what, I have no idea at this point. He'd probably have to be evaluated, but I don't think at this point that he'll use that as an excuse.

Q. Generally, you guys score this many runs, get that kind of production from Manny, finally get a home run from Soto, you probably at some point...

BOB MELVIN: Yeah, if you told me we're going to score six runs tonight, I'd probably think we have a pretty good chance to win the game. Getting off to a great start with four, come back and get a three spot against us. Nick came in and stabilized things. Typically don't want to use him for three innings but ended up doing a job to hold us there.

Then in the middle innings through the seventh, we had a tough time holding them down.

Q. I was just wondering in your mind how much of a difference maker is the crowd here for Philadelphia?

BOB MELVIN: It's like our place. I think it certainly incentivizes the home team. Certainly they get a lot of momentum from it, like we do at home.

As a visiting team, you deal with the noise, and I think it's a lot more for the home team to kind of get carried by that kind of enthusiasm.

Q. Having had to cover 27 outs with your bullpen, how would you kind of assess where things stand right now with your relief corps?

BOB MELVIN: Look, we're going to have to get it done. We have some guys at the back end that could potentially pitch more than one inning. This time of year, guys are just going to have to go out and perform.

We have Hill too. We'll see where we are with Martinez, but I think everybody will say tomorrow that they're ready to pitch.

Q. How would you describe what Nick was able to get done tonight?

BOB MELVIN: That was huge. Keeping the runner on second from scoring was a big lift going back in the dugout. You score four, you give up three, and there's a guy out there and you leave him out there on the field and come back in with the lead, that was huge. Then to give us two more. So it was fantastic what he did.

Like I said, we just couldn't hold them down after that.

Q. Going back to the fifth inning, I know you said it happened quickly. Was Garcia maybe ready for earlier there?

BOB MELVIN: We were trying to get him through Harper. That's kind of where we're at. He strikes out Marsh, looked good, had good velo on it. Walked Schwarber on some close pitches, and at that point in time we're trying to get him through Harper.