MLB WORLD SERIES: PHILLIES VS ASTROS

November 2, 2022

Alex Bregman

Christian Vazquez

Citizens Bank Park

Houston Astros

Postgame 4 Press Conference

Houston Astros - 5, Philadelphia Phillies - 0

THE MODERATOR: We'll get started with Christian Vázquez.

Q. It was clear early on that Javier had it, that he was dealing, but he got better as the innings went on. What was that like from your perspective, being a part of that? Eventually I'm sure you realized you guys were throwing a no-hitter and it becomes combined, but you're also trying to win a World Series game, but specifically just how impressive he was tonight and the relationship you guys had as pitcher and catcher.

CHRISTIAN VÁZQUEZ: Yeah, always he is on the mound we're expecting a great fastball and great slider. He was very, very electric tonight with the fastball. I think that's the way he is and we always expecting that. And I think that's the best fastball right now in baseball.

Q. At what point during this game did you start to think a no-hitter was possible?

CHRISTIAN VÁZQUEZ: Well, maybe the last inning. We were facing a great lineup with a lot of power. In this ballpark, we seen it yesterday. It was fun to get back and get a W tonight. It was awesome game for us.

Q. You've had a World Series ring with the Red Sox. How does this moment maybe compare to what happened back in 2018?

CHRISTIAN VÁZQUEZ: We have not finished the job here. I think it's a special moment, obviously, it's a no-hitter. There's only two catchers in history to make or call a no-hitter. So, yeah, it's very special day for us and we're happy to get that W for everybody.

THE MODERATOR: We're joined by Alex Bregman as well.

Q. Christian, coming to the Astros this year in August and everything, how hard is it or how do you mix in, learn all the pitchers and everything and integrate into the staff?

CHRISTIAN VÁZQUEZ: Yeah, I think talking to, when I'm not playing, talking to everybody, knowing all the pitchers, call bullpens when they're not playing. I think that's the way of getting to know everybody.

Q. That fastball's been described as invisible. They call it the invisible fastball. Can you explain what makes it invisible? You called it the best fastball in baseball and it's not 101. What makes it the best fastball in baseball?

CHRISTIAN VÁZQUEZ: Yeah, yeah. I think the action up, it's going up and, like a tour ball fastball. I think that's the only thing I can tell you. And then I think it's electric. You can call it anytime. No matter who is in the batter's box, you can call it and it's going to be success with that pitch.

Q. I would like to ask both of you if you can sort of take a step back and view this in the historical way. I know for you the win was the most important tonight. You had to even the series, but you got that. Talk about what you accomplished or what this team accomplished historically tonight and how you view that.

ALEX BREGMAN: I mean, it's crazy. We grew up watching the World Series. We know the baseball's been going on for a long, long time. So to be a part of, just be a teammate on a team that did that and what Javy and all the guys did is really special. It's a moment that we'll all cherish forever and we'll all remember forever. It was really awesome. Like you said, the biggest thing for us is getting the win today.

CHRISTIAN VÁZQUEZ: I think, like Bregman said, we've not finished the job yet, but this is very, very special for us. And when we get old we're going to remember this.

Q. At what point did you guys start thinking -- again, I know the game is the most important, getting the W, but at what point did you start thinking, Gee, this might actually be a no-hitter?

ALEX BREGMAN: For me, when Yuli caught the ball at first base to end it, to be honest. I promise you every single person in the dugout just wanted one thing today and that was to win.

Q. You faced Javier as a hitter, now you catch him. You talked a little bit about his fastball. What is it that makes him so difficult? Is it just that fastball or is there more to it?

CHRISTIAN VÁZQUEZ: Yeah, when you think you got a chance with the fastball and he throws you the slider and it's a big slider and I think he's a special kid. It feels better catching than facing him. So, yeah, it was electric tonight.

Q. Alex, the big inning looked like old school. You told us for years, pass the baton, one guy to the next. How did it kind of get infectious during that inning? And how do you guys kind of ride this, feeling a whole lot different being 2-2 as opposed to being down 3-1?

ALEX BREGMAN: Yeah, like you said, it was a pass-the-baton kind of inning. Guys putting together good quality at-bats, swinging at pitches that were good pitches to hit, each guy not trying to do too much, just staying within themselves.

For myself, I was just trying to put a good swing on a pitch and put the ball in play. And then I thought Tucker did a fantastic job after that of moving the guy over and getting one in. And then Yuli came up with a big hit to add insurance.

Yeah, I think we were all focused on winning today. There was nothing else on our mind than just win today, win the next pitch, and we're going to keep that mentality moving forward.

Q. Alex, now you got Justin Verlander going in the next game. I know it wasn't his start that he was a big fan of last time around, but you've seen him bounce back this year and he's probably going to win the Cy Young. So what have you seen from him when he's coming off a start that he didn't like?

ALEX BREGMAN: He's locked in, he's focused, he's ready to go, ready to compete, ready to attack. I tell you, every single person in that clubhouse has the most confidence in the world in him. He's a Hall of Famer for a reason. We look forward to having him on the mound tomorrow.

Q. Christian, you guys with Javier only threw basically two different pitches. Was that kind of the game plan? Were you guys in sync most of the time about the pitch calling?

CHRISTIAN VÁZQUEZ: Yeah, I think we read all the swings during the game and, you know, when they don't show you a good swing with the fastball, we continue to throw it. And I think that's the way we called the game today and it was effective.

Q. For either of you, what does it say about the Astros pitching in general that Javier is your third starter here and he's a guy who comes out of the bullpen a lot. I mean, he's thrown I think seven no-hit innings and now six no-hit innings.

ALEX BREGMAN: I think it says that we have all the confidence in the world in every single person that takes the mound. I think that's definitely one of the strengths of this ball club and has been all year, has been for a long time.

We have all the confidence in the world in all those guys. No matter if we won the night before, lost the night before, up two, down two, whatever. We have all the confidence in the world in every single person that toes the rubber and we're ready to play defense behind 'em.

Q. Alex, in the 4th inning it seemed like you guys were hitting Nola pretty hard. Did you get a sense that you could perhaps get him in that 5th inning? You hit a lot of balls that were hard but were at people. Did you have a sense that you could get him in the next inning?

ALEX BREGMAN: He's really tough. He's one of the best pitchers in the world. With those kind of guys you really have to just try and compete and put together good at-bats and try and swing at some good pitches. He's really tough.

I thought the guys did a good job today, a lot better than yesterday, of executing and just in general. I thought that the quality and the focus of the at-bat was huge today. I thought it stayed there. Even though we didn't score to finish the game, I thought guys swung at good pitches and that's all you can ask.

Q. How big was that bottom of the 4th where Javier struck out the side and that allowed you guys to set up that big five-run inning?

ALEX BREGMAN: Oh, I thought it was huge. Just him continuing to put up zeros when we hadn't scored was keeping us in the game and giving us a chance. That's all you can really ask for out of a starter. We put a little pressure on him there not scoring early. He answered the bell. I think it was huge just being able to give us a chance to get a lead.