NL DIVISION SERIES: PHILLIES VS BRAVES

October 11, 2023

Rob Thomson

Citizens Bank Park

Philadelphia Phillies

Postgame 3 Press Conference

Phillies 10 - Braves 2

Q. We gotta start this off, I guess, by talking about Bryce Harper, the way he came back from, I guess, a base running gap. I don't know if that really qualifies as such. But talk about how well he performed, how he came back in this game today?

ROB THOMSON: Yeah. He really did. And he's a big-game player. He really is. These moments he steps up, and I think that he wanted to correct himself for the biggest running error. That gets him going a little bit, but he wants to win, and he comes to play every day. And when the lights are the brightest, he shows up.

Q. Rob, you said pregame yesterday Bryce isn't the type that needs extra motivation, but if it works, then thank you. Looks like he may be looked at Arcia. Did that maybe light a fire under him or anyone in the clubhouse that you know of?

ROB THOMSON: I don't think so. I don't think anybody needs any motivation right now, especially Harp. Harp is always motivated. Yeah, I didn't see him -- did he look at him as he was running around the bases?

Q. Yes.

ROB THOMSON: Well, I don't know what to say about that.

Q. Rob, you talked pregame about Nola minimizing damage in recent starts. That third inning tonight, the Ozuna at-bat, how important did you feel that was in the course of this night?

ROB THOMSON: Yeah, really getting out of that. I thought he was really good all night, locating his fastballs. Curveball was really good. I don't think he threw many change-ups. I'm not sure if he didn't have a feel for it or what.

But his fastball got ahead of hitters and then just stepped on it. He was really good.

Q. And then you were able to stay away from a bunch of key relievers going into a game tomorrow. Do you have a starter for tomorrow?

ROB THOMSON: Yeah. It is Ranger. Ranger will start tomorrow.

Q. How important was it to be able to preserve all those guys?

ROB THOMSON: Yeah, it's huge. Even if those guys pitched tonight, they'd be available tomorrow. But just given an extra day is better for them. And those added runs in the 8th inning were really big for us.

Q. Rob, how big do you think that Castellanos's swing is to start the third you guys down the way Bryce Elder goes through the lineup the first few times?

ROB THOMSON: Yeah, they get the lead in the top of the third. Right? And then he leads off the bottom of the third, and we get right back on it.

And then, of course, Bryce hits the three-run homer, and then the biggest -- one of the biggest hits was J.T.'s double just to keep it going, just to create some more separation. I thought that was a huge hit.

Q. Do you think it's significant for Nick to see one -- two leave the park? He hadn't had a lot -- I don't think he had any home runs last season. Is that significant for him do you think?

ROB THOMSON: You know, his at-bats the last three or four games have been outstanding. Harris made a great play the other day in the ballgame. That was a great at-bat. The entire game, his at-bats were really, really good. He's just not chasing as much. He looks like he's locked in right now.

Q. That third inning, I mean you guys were pretty down in the mouth leaving Atlanta, and then you had a day off to think about it. I don't know if it was Castellanos's home run or maybe more so Bryce's, but kind of felt like Rhys last year sort of kicking off Red October. What was it like in the dugout and which one resonated more in your surroundings?

ROB THOMSON: Probably -- I mean, they were all big. It was electric in the dugout on Cast's, but Harp's home run, I think everybody just kind of lost it there for a second. So it was a lot of fun. We played well.

Q. Rob, you've been around the game a long time. I mean have you ever seen like such a big-time player like Bryce Harper whenever the spotlight is on him coming through like he has time after time?

ROB THOMSON: Yeah. We had a couple in New York, but he is a big-time player. And he shows up, like I said, when the lights are the brightest and future Hall-of-Famer. I just love having him on our club.

Q. Rob, we've talked all season about when this lineup is healthy, that they didn't don't let up on the opposing pitcher one through nine. Six home runs tonight. You said J.T.'s might have been the biggest. Is this kind of the perfect storm of what you pictured this lineup could be?

ROB THOMSON: Yeah, I think so. And the thing is about this club is -- and I've said it all year long, they're resilient. We lose a tough ballgame in Atlanta the other night, we get behind one nothing in the third inning, and they just keep fighting. And they fight till the end, and I'm proud of them for that.

Q. With Nola, his last three starts all year at home, huge performances, given ovations from the crowd, who knows what the future holds, how nice is it for you to see him get that appreciation from the fans?

ROB THOMSON: Well, he should because he's a great pitcher. And he's been here for awhile, and he hasn't missed a start since I've been here. You can almost book five innings every night that he walks out there. He deserves it.

Q. It might get lost in the shuffle in this game, but Brandon Marsh gets three hits, hadn't been swinging the bat well. Big game for him to get back going in the direction he needed to go?

ROB THOMSON: Yeah, it's huge because with Schwarber leading off, you want those guys at the end of the lineup to get on base so that he only leads off the game once obviously.

When those guys at the end of the lineup get on base, we got a chance to put up crooked number. And Brandon swung the bat very well tonight, so it's good to see.