WORLD BASEBALL CLASSIC: POOL C - MEXICO VS UNITED STATES

March 12, 2023

Patrick Sandoval

Randy Arozarena

Chase Field

Team Mexico

Postgame Press Conference

Mexico - 11, USA - 5

Q. Thank you for the emotional play, two games with the team, now you're having taken leadership. They scream, MVP, MVP. That overcomes anything that you can be as a baseball player. What does the win leave you?

RANDY AROZARENA: It was a very important game that we had to win because if we would have lost then we would have been two under. So we had a winning mentality. The manager spoke with us to not have our head down so we could win. So everybody offensively, pitching it was a great game for us today.

Q. Patrick, how does it feel, the whole experience for you winning this game for Mexico?

PATRICK SANDOVAL: It's a great experience. This is up there with one of the greatest nights of my baseball career, for sure. The camaraderie with the team, the emotion we play with, the hustle, the heart. It's incredible. It's fun. It's really fun to be in that dugout.

Q. Patrick, how was it pitching to Mike? Did you find it more fun, more nerve-racking? Any particular thought there?

PATRICK SANDOVAL: No. Just fun to compete with the best, honestly. When you have Mike Trout in the box you've got to have your best stuff. I thought I did my part today. And it was fun to face him, for sure.

Q. Randy, Benji just told us that you're the clutch baseball, the key baseball player for the team. What does this represent for you? And also that you have gained the respect of the people even after two days. They even call you MVP.

RANDY AROZARENA: I feel happy, very happy for my teammates as well. Most important it's not just me, the unity that we have inside and outside the field. And I know that I can contribute to the team and that's what I try to do.

I thank God and it's been happening. And the fans then, they make me happy. So that's why I try to reciprocate with the love.

Q. Randy, we know that Tijuana was your cradle and that's why you have that feel for Mexico. How is it after all you've been going through to be here and also the pitching, not to lose, they tried to complicate pitches.

RANDY AROZARENA: I'm very emotional about my first Classic. I've never played with so many fans inside the stadium. And also thank you for the Toros; it was my first team that I played. That was my first step that the reason that I am here.

And I always try to be positive when I'm on the field so I can give the best of me. I can help the team. And now I'm with Mexico. So I play with -- every inning I play with my heart. So I try to help them with the victory.

Q. Are we going to keep the tradition with the boots or just for special games?

RANDY AROZARENA: No just for the special games. It's because the boots are the lucky ones, the lucky charms.

Q. Patrick, you feel your team, maybe in this match, they think about it's a two -- I wanted to ask you, how does it feel, the advantage that you have because we thought that it was going to be a very difficulty for Mexico so they can bat against the United States. How did you see that you had that advantage so soon in the innings?

PATRICK SANDOVAL: Give all credit in the world to Austin Barnes behind the plate. Helped me tremendously going over the scouting report and executing the game plan for three innings and getting through that lineup with only one run.

All the praise in the world to him, to Austin Barnes. And just happy to be there with my teammates. And again, the energy that these guys play with, it's incredible.

Q. This is a big night for baseball in this town. You could see the crowd. You knew who was in there, a lot of Mexicans, Mexican-Americans, a very diverse group. But how much were you and your teammates maybe feeding off that energy off the crowd tonight?

PATRICK SANDOVAL: 100 percent. You could hear the crowd tonight. It was insane. I've never played in an atmosphere like that. To be able to contribute to a win like that, it's incredible. And so grateful for the opportunity.

Q. Randy, before you stepped to the plate, seemed like you tried to fist bump the catcher Will Smith and he didn't want to have any part of it. Was that strange, or what happened there?

RANDY AROZARENA: I don't know. I enjoy baseball from each game. So I also try to be happy when I play against ex-teammates. When I first, I saluted Goldy, since we played in St. Louis together, and played with me in Triple-A when he was with the Dodgers.

I was happy to see him. I tried to salute him, but he left me with a hand hanging out. What am I going to do? Not cry. So I just kept going forward and I (indiscernible).

Q. Patrick, what have your impressions been of Joey Meneses so far since you've been with the team?

PATRICK SANDOVAL: MVP right there. That dude can hit and hits the ball very, very hard. It's awesome. The energy he plays with as well, the passion, how in tune he is with each pitcher, how he watches the game and game plans. It's been fun to watch. And he showed it tonight.

Q. What effect did the bat flip have on the dugout?

PATRICK SANDOVAL: I don't know. It fired me -- I'm still fired up by it, to be honest.

Q. It was quite striking to hear the crowd sing so passionately the Mexican National Anthem. Can you tell us how it felt on the field to hear that?

RANDY AROZARENA: It was incredible. I've never played with so many fans in the World Series. So it was something that I could remember the moment because to become Mexican I had to learn the National Anthem and I had to sing it with them. So it was very emotional for me that all the people would cheer us and everybody sat here all united and they don't leave us alone.

PATRICK SANDOVAL: To be quite honest, I'm still trying to learn the National Anthem. It was incredible. Again never been in an environment like that with the energy, the crowd. It was just insane, so much to feed off of, and it's just awesome.

Q. Randy, can you explain why you celebrate? Is there a reason why you celebrate the way you do?

RANDY AROZARENA: I just knew there's a lot of cameras so I have to pose for a good picture.