AL DIVISION SERIES: RANGERS VS ORIOLES

October 8, 2023

Bruce Bochy

Oriole Park at Camden Yards

Texas Rangers

Postgame 2 Press Conference

Texas 11, Baltimore 8

Q. We badgered you about the 3 hole in the lineup about a week. To see Mitch come up big with the grand slam in that moment.

BRUCE BOCHY: He came up big earlier, too, with that swinging bunt, speed showed up there. But, you know, he can hit. He's done a great job this year for us, so gave him a start today. Got a pitch he can handle, he's got big power. It's big at that point this the game. Really it was the difference in the game. Scored five in the second and four in the third and fourth innings, so that's always a nice cushion, which we needed.

Q. You talked about Cody Bradford's ability to handle whatever has been thrown at him. What did you see out of him today?

BRUCE BOCHY: Yeah, what a job he did. The momentum was starting to switch there and he came in, and he's pounding the strike zone very well. With all of the pitches, working all quadrants. He's so prepared. And this kid, we brought up, and he's handled everything we've thrown at him, from starting, using him in relief, high leverage situations, he just handles himself so well. For a rookie, it's been really impressive.

Q. How do you look at your lineup right now, one through nine as far as how it's performing?

BRUCE BOCHY: I think you have to look throughout the order, what a great job they're all doing. We have length in the lineup. Look at the back of the order today. Jung, big day, Taveras scored three runs, turning the lineup. And so we're getting production from everybody, which obviously we needed today. We gave up 8 runs. It's stretched out to the point where, you know, there's not an easy out, I think, throughout the lineup.

Q. You guys took a ton of walks today. And Corey specifically, I know people don't want to give him a lot to hit. But for him to take five walks, that was huge.

BRUCE BOCHY: A great job from him. He's not expanding, take your watch. Mitch came through for us today. And Dolly, he had some good swings today, too, and of course Carter. So it's not one guy is going to carry this club. Corey, five walks, you take it. He's getting on base.

And that's what you're trying to do is get guys on base, put pressure on them, and the guys did a great job of it with the long at-bats, and we got their starter out of there. Just a terrific job throughout the order.

Q. The way that you guys have been playing on the road now, four straight postseason games that you've won. How impressive is it to see you go into these environments and come away with wins?

BRUCE BOCHY: I talked about this earlier, coming off a tough series there in Seattle, having to fly all the way to Tampa, and the way they responded says a lot about them, their makeup. All year we've had to bounce back from some tough losses and injuries. And they just focused forward.

And we had our hands full going down to Tampa and coming up here playing this really good ball club. We're heading home. It seems like we've been on the road for a month. We'll be off tomorrow, and looking forward to the games there at home.

Q. Garver, was it an easy decision to write him in in the 3 spot, or were you weighing other options there?

BRUCE BOCHY: No, no. I made up my mind two or three days ago. I told him I'll get you in the mix here. He's done such a good job for us. It's not right not to have him involved, really, because at times he was carrying us. We had some injuries and he was sitting in a cleanup spot and coming through. He's had a good year, a real good year.

On the power side, gives you good at-bats, long at-bats, he'll take his walks. It's good to see him out there and have some success. He hasn't played a few days, so I think he did a nice job out there.