NL WILD CARD SERIES: DIAMONDBACKS VS BREWERS

October 3, 2023

Corbin Carroll

Christian Walker

American Family Field

Arizona Diamondbacks

Postgame Press Conference

Arizona Diamondbacks 6, Milwaukee Brewers 3

Q. For Corbin, I was just wondering when you are down three runs early against Corbin Burnes, what was the attitude approach like there in the dugout facing that three-run deficit because y'all came back really early, and I was wondering if the success y'all had against Corbin this season, if that kind of played into your confidence at all?

CORBIN CARROLL: I think -- I don't think our game plan changed much. You know, he is a really good pitcher. We wanted to get him out of there. I thought we took really patient at-bats and got rewarded with that patience by getting some balls in the middle of the plate that we were able to put some good swings on.

Q. Corbin, you've done a lot of incredible things as a rookie this year, but where does hitting a home run in your postseason debut rank on that list?

CORBIN CARROLL: I mean, pretty high. I think we've all felt it and all said it and just bought into the fact that this is why we do it, right? This is why we play this game.

To be able to come through for the team in a game like this just is an incredible feeling.

Q. What were you looking for in that at-bat?

CORBIN CARROLL: Not specifically the changeup. You know, it was more of a reaction to a pitch I saw well, and it was towards the middle of the plate, but I think with him, you've got to honor all three. He has proven to me over the course of -- I think this is our fifth time facing him that he'll throw all three and has pretty good command over all three.

Q. You just got a good look at it and recognized it?

CORBIN CARROLL: Yeah.

Q. And then I mean down 3-0 against Corbin Burnes, what did that home run do you think do to the dugout?

CHRISTIAN WALKER: Yeah, that was the spark. It just kind of let everybody know, hey, we're in this. You know, the confidence to see somebody turn around a good pitch, it was like, hey, stay locked in. He is going to make mistakes, but that was the spark. It kind of took the edge off.

You know, we've had some good -- some good success off of him this year, but every situation is different. Every start is different. So to swing at the bat two runs, all of a sudden, it's a one-run game. It changes everything.

Q. To also put up some insurance against their closer, I guess what was the approach going up against Devin Williams?

CHRISTIAN WALKER: He is really good at throwing pitches, just like living on the edges. He has that heater at the hot. Threw me a couple of good fastballs just up above. For whatever reason, I was able to take them tonight.

Obviously the changeup is his bread and butter, but I think it starts with getting him in the zone. If you can start the at-bats with one or two balls, I think maybe there's a little -- hopefully there's a little less conviction in the nasty changeup and you're playing the mistake game at that point, but yeah, insurance runs late are crucial.

Our guys on the back end are great. We have a lot of confidence in them, but the more pad we can give them, the better.

Q. Christian or Corbin, you guys beat their best tonight, and you guys have your best two coming in the next two games. How do you guys feel about the position that you're in right now?

CHRISTIAN WALKER: Yeah, it's -- every day is its own thing. I think matchups and things like that over the course of a season, playing the long game, I think they matter.

I think the energy is so specific right now to selling out to winning games and just passing the baton. All the baseball cliches to keep the team in it and lean on each other.

It matters to some level, but every day is its own thing, and it's not like we're feeling like overconfident or the other end of that spectrum. It's just tomorrow is the same as today. We're going to show up. We're going to prepare. We're going to work hard and do our best to execute.

Q. Christian, just curious for you, at what point -- at Corbin's size, did it occur to you that not only can he get a homer but hit a ball 450 feet or so like he did tonight?

CHRISTIAN WALKER: When I saw his force play production in the lab at Spring Training. His ground force is incredible. It was different.

It's no credit secret what kind of player he is and the tools that he possesses. I'm very impressed with the ability to go out and execute, not try to do too much. It's the most consistent form of just playing his game. Truly, truly an anchor to this offense.

Q. For either of you gentlemen. It's funny, Evan Longoria spoke before the game and said playoffs are all about executing in big moments and showing up and making those plays when it matters most. You guys did that tonight. How crucial was that, whether it was Longoria or either of you making those plays when they mattered most and showing up in the big moments?

CORBIN CARROLL: Yeah, I mean, there were a number of game-changing plays tonight offensively and on the defensive side of the ball. One or two of those doesn't go our way, and we're looking at a different game.

I think it's a testament to everyone being 100% locked in, having an unselfish offense. Like Walk said, keeping the baton moving. It added up to some really cool things tonight.

Q. Christian, what was your vantage point on Longo's catch that started the double play? What did you think of that play?

CHRISTIAN WALKER: Incredible. You know, the guy just continues to rise to the occasion when we need him. Not only is he an excellent veteran presence, but when the moment calls for it, he -- you know, he is amazing. He comes through for us, whether it's at the plate or in the field.

I mean, without that play, without the head on the swivel on the chopper across the middle that caught the runner on the back end at the second, I think it was Yelich. Without both of those, like Corbin said, it's a different box score, it's a different game. That's a huge, huge part of why we won tonight because of Longoria, for sure.

Q. Could both of you talk about your bullpen tonight too. Just the gate swinging open and then they just did their thing tonight.

CHRISTIAN WALKER: Super impressed with everybody. For me, Ginkel's performance stands out. To come in and give two zeros like that in a crucial, crucial part of the game, we know we have Pauly on the back end. It was cool to see him stretch himself over two, but then also put the team on his back and get a throw up of zeros when we needed it. At that point it was a one-run game. That close of a game feels like it's still up for grabs.

To be able to -- the zeros are great, but also the momentum that gets stopped when there's two consecutive times that they're batting and there's nothing, right? There's nobody on base. There's barely a ball put in play. As an offense, that's frustrating, and he really put us on his back there today.

CORBIN CARROLL: Those innings stand out to me too. Then you can talk about the ones where there was a little bit more traffic. I think just the resilience that each guy showed and the way that sort of the game was pieced together from a managerial perspective, it was all incredibly impressive.