AL CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES: RANGERS VS ASTROS

October 16, 2023

Bruce Bochy

Minute Maid Park

Texas Rangers

Postgame 2 Press Conference

Rangers - 5, Astros 4

Q. What was the key to the way you were able to jump on Framber that early?

BRUCE BOCHY: Well, I think more than anything we put the ball in play, good things happen. We get a break on that swing and bunt. We had good at-bats. We just kept thinking moving, Garcia had a big hit to keep things going, and then Nate and Garver. It's always good to get a crooked number up there, especially early, but it held up for us. It's about putting the ball in play, and we did that that first inning.

Q. What stands out about Eovaldi's confidence especially when he has the bases loaded and he gets out of a jam like that?

BRUCE BOCHY: Well, I think you're talking about one of the elite pitchers in the game. They have that ability to turn up a notch when they had to. We made an error, bases loaded, and it's about picking each other up, and he picked us up there and made great pitches.

That was the turning point in the game, bases loaded and nobody out in the 5th. Found a way to get through it. And terrific job by him. He had good stuff today. He pitched very well. And that's six solid innings, last two were a little stressful, and that's why I went ahead and made a change.

Q. Have you considered walking Yordan in those situations, or do you plan for keep pitching to them?

BRUCE BOCHY: We gave up three homers. They were solo homers. That works. It gives you a chance to win. We weren't thinking about putting him on base, with nobody on there. You try to keep him in the park. He's a good hitter. He got a couple of balls he could handle. That's baseball, but, no, I didn't want to start putting guys on when we had a lead. That's the last thing I want to do at that point. We attacked them, and he got us a couple of times.

Q. Two pitching questions, did you think about sending Eovaldi back for the 7th?

BRUCE BOCHY: No, he had done enough. I told him great job. Pitch count wasn't all that bad, 91, but still pretty good work, after six innings, especially when you look at the last two, the fifth in particular, how hard he had to work to get through that.

That takes a toll on you. The next inning he gave up a run, but he made big pitches there with a runner on second base there, and bullpen is ready to go, Sborzy, great job. Everybody, (indiscernible) hung a slider that left the ballpark, but overall great job by everybody.

Q. Did you give a thought to Will Smith with the two left-handers coming up there?

BRUCE BOCHY: I did. We had a couple options there. We had Haney, and thought about Will Smith, too. He's a good option, no question about that.

Q. Taveras has had three walks in the series. How has he, being in the 9 hole, keep the confidence of getting back to the start of the lineup?

BRUCE BOCHY: Well, that's what you're looking for from the guy hitting 9th. He's done a great job of doing that all year, taking his walks and getting the base hits, too. But he's got a good eye at the plate. And he's gotten so much better, that's probably the biggest improvement in his game is not expanding the zone, taking the walks when they give them to him.

He's dangerous up there. They have to be careful with him. That's what you want, that guy to get on for Marcus and Corey, and all year he's done that for us.