NL WILD CARD SERIES: DIAMONDBACKS VS BREWERS

October 3, 2023

Craig Counsell

American Family Field

Milwaukee Brewers

Postgame Press Conference

Arizona Diamondbacks 6, Milwaukee Brewers 3

Q. You're accustomed to seeing Corbin Burnes get a lead and hold it. What did you think happened tonight? Too many pitches in the middle of the plate?

CRAIG COUNSELL: I just looked at the home runs. You know, the changeup has been a pitch that there hasn't been a lot of damage on for sure, and he did give Carroll credit. The cutter -- I didn't think the cutter -- it was in. Probably looking for it in that situation.

The slider to Moreno, that was probably a little bit hanging for sure. They did a nice job. You know, they not only hit them hard, they hit them out of the park, and that's obviously damage, and that's runs on the board pretty fast.

That was the story that for Corbin. The stuff he gave up was damage, unfortunately.

Q. Craig, his stuff looked pretty sharp the first time through. Did something change for the D-backs the second time through that you saw?

CRAIG COUNSELL: I thought they hit some balls hard, but I don't think that changed anything for Corbin.

Q. Obviously Longoria made some pretty good plays tonight, but was this about as frustrating a game offensively as you can remember in recent memory? A lot of opportunities and just couldn't cash many in.

CRAIG COUNSELL: Look, we did a great job putting pressure on them for the five of the first six innings, and really all those six innings I think lead-off runner felt like he was on probably five out of those six.

We did a nice job there. Yeah, and then we -- the Taylor ball was a big play in the game for sure. Longoria made a great play, and we got caught off there. We caught a bad break out on the -- when Yulich got called out at second base. Kind of just making the turn and the bauble and kind of what are you going to do there?

So, yeah, we had some chances obviously. We had a chance in the third, but they made pitches. Their bullpen did a really nice job.

Q. Game 2 starter, do you have that yet?

CRAIG COUNSELL: We're going to discuss, and we'll have it soon.

Q. No matter who you start 2 versus 3, just how big a wrench does this throw into the plan, including Devin Williams having to throw 31 pitches tonight and the idea of having this deep group of pitching?

CRAIG COUNSELL: Yeah. I mean, look, in a three-game series, you lose Game 1, your back is up against the wall, and you have faced adversity, and we have to respond to it. It's as simple as that.

We'll be fine in the bullpen tomorrow. No concerns there. We have to just come out and play a good game.

Q. Craig, did Jesse get hurt there on that swing?

CRAIG COUNSELL: I mean, he has an oblique issue there. I haven't spoken with the trainers yet to see where we're at with it.

Q. Did you think Adonis needs to be a little more alert on that, or is that -- do you just kind of tip your hat to Longoria on that play?

CRAIG COUNSELL: You mean the line drive? Yeah, I mean, I think it's -- look, it's difficult. I think he probably read over his head, and it was probably two inches from being over his head, and unfortunately it cost us for sure. He made an aggressive lead. It turned out to be the wrong one.