NL DIVISION SERIES: DIAMONDBACKS VS DODGERS

October 11, 2023

Kevin Ginkel

Brandon Pfaadt

Chase Field

Arizona Diamondbacks

Postgame 3 Press Conference

Diamondbacks - 4, Dodgers - 2

Q. I just asked them this, but the impact of the crowd. You were there at the height of it. What was it like in that moment, in that eighth inning for you?

KEVIN GINKEL: It was a crazy game, for sure. We got some momentum early on, and we were kind of riding pretty well, and then they kind of tacked on a couple of runs.

And for me I think walking Wong on four pitches wasn't how I drew it up. But to face Betts and Freeman in that spot, 4-2, critical moment in the game, I just tried to simplify it and not make it bigger than it is. Just a special moment.

I have so much respect for that team. They've had my number for years. And to come up in a spot like that in the postseason, you can't script it any better.

Q. Feels like the whole bullpen is kind of clicking at the right time, everyone in their roles. What has happened to allow that to happen?

KEVIN GINKEL: It's just the momentum and I think the brotherhood, I don't know what you want to call it, just the love for each other I think has put us in this spot now.

You just feel it. Guys in the bullpen are in it every single pitch, including myself. And swings happen and momentum shifts. We're all in. And I think there is just a level of excitement and newness to it.

And so we're going to ride this. And we look forward to whoever we play next. It's going to be a great opportunity.

Q. Kevin, you've been here since 2019. There were, what, three, four guys who are on the team now when you got called up. You've seen the team narrowly missing the playoffs, through the trough to back where you are. Could you describe how that all went, the whole journey?

KEVIN GINKEL: I was part of that journey, for sure, personally, I think with my career, going through those hard times. Like any athlete does, you have your doubts with things. And I just kind of had to work on some stuff and gain some confidence again.

And it started last year and I think propelled me into this year and into this spot. Nothing's ever been handed to me. I've had to just go out and earn it just like everybody else.

But I'm excited, and I think this team's got a bright future ahead of it for however long it is. There's just a buzz, I think, with this team.

Q. In the past, if you would have lost a batter like Wong maybe things would have continued to go downhill for you. But this year, time and again, we've seen you have that situation and you immediately lock it in and shut it down. Do you attribute it to the mechanical changes you made to help you find your release point or is it more mental or combination of both?

KEVIN GINKEL: I've kind of come full circle now. My mechanics, how I've gotten to this spot now is interesting. But I'm just proud, I guess. It's just hard work and grit that's got me to this spot. I don't take anything for granted.

I think I'm more of a mature player than I was a couple years ago. And I know I've got the stuff. I think it was a lot of mental things that I was battling. I'm here now and I'm just I'm excited. Hopefully this team keeps going and we keep rolling.

Q. Now in the postseason do the home strikeouts also count with the house's charity there?

KEVIN GINKEL: I'll talk to this team, but I think that should be something that we can figure out, yes.

Q. Brandon, given the stakes of the game and the sell-out crowd here and everything that winning this game would have meant, how did you manage to channel the adrenaline and pitch the way you pitched tonight?

BRANDON PFAADT: I think everybody knew it was going to be a sell-out. And everybody knew that Chase was going to be rocking.

I said earlier it felt like a different stadium out there. It was incredible to be able to pitch tonight in front of that atmosphere and hopefully there's many more times to come.

Q. How did you manage to be as efficient as you were?

BRANDON PFAADT: I think after the four home runs, that's kind of what a pitcher goes out there and tries to do, especially the inning after, try to be as efficient as possible, get the bats back in the dugout.

So it's easier to do it then. It's more focused at that point when you score a lot of runs in one inning. And I think that's kind of my mentality tonight.

Q. When Torey comes out to get you, I imagine you understand the reasoning, but what's going through your head there? And what was going on knowing you had more in the tank, you hadn't thrown a lot of pitches?

BRANDON PFAADT: I had a lot in the tank. I knew it was going to be a shorter leash than Zac and Merrill. I think a lot of people knew that. I was just there to give them whatever the team needed.

My goal was to be winning the game when I came out. That was my only goal, no matter how long that was. And you've got to trust your manager. And obviously we trust our bullpen, they've been lights out. It wasn't a problem at all.

Q. Talk a little bit about your journey. At the start of the season, in Reno, and Torey and Brent sent you down with some things to do. Tell us about your journey, to reach the level you have in probably the last month and a half?

BRANDON PFAADT: It's been a wild year. I think going down, working on certain things and coming back up a better pitcher was the main goal. The first time I got sent down there, you're going to pitch in important games later on in the season for us. So, to be able to be in this spot like they said is pretty cool.

Q. Seemed like earlier on you were using your change-up to keep them off balance a little bit more. And then kind of mix it up a little further after that. That seemed like a little bit different approach for you. I don't remember you throwing that many change-ups early in the game before.

BRANDON PFAADT: No, I think lately we've been more fastball/slider, especially -- and I think the change-up helps free that up and open up those other pitches to help get early outs.

Q. What's it like pitching to Gabby? And what does he mean to this pitching staff?

BRANDON PFAADT: He's incredible. He's incredible on both sides of the plate -- or both sides of the ball, offensively as he showed tonight.

And just having him back there, you wouldn't think he was a rookie. You would think he's been around for a while and the way he connects with the pitchers is incredible.