AL CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES: RANGERS VS ASTROS

October 19, 2023

Alex Bregman

Globe Life Field

Houston Astros

Postgame 4 Press Conference

Q. You had that big at-bat in the first inning. What did you see there? What led to your big triple?

ALEX BREGMAN: I'd say Altuve did a great job setting the tone getting on base, and Dubón got him to third. My job in that situation was to put a ball in play and hopefully drive it to the outfield.

That was my only focus. I made some good contact and was fortunate enough to put a good swing on it. And Yordan came up right after and did a great job getting me in.

Q. Altuve had three hits tonight, to start things off with a double. How big is that?

ALEX BREGMAN: It's huge. He does such an unbelievable job of setting the tone for us. And yeah, second at-bat and beautiful line drive in the four-hole and hits a double to left.

He's a very tough out, and we're lucky to have him on our team.

Q. Today was José's hundredth playoff game. You guys have really been through the wars together. Can you reflect on the journey that you two specifically have taken together? You guys have been here since 2017 through it all.

ALEX BREGMAN: It's been awesome. It's been an honor to be his teammate, a Hall of Fame player and a Hall of Fame person. Incredible leader every single day. From day one of Spring Training, he shows up, work his tail off. He always has a smile on his face. He's so nice to everyone that he comes into contact with, players, coaches, staff, people at the stadium, fans.

He's an unbelievable human being, and to be able to be his teammate, it's been an honor, and hopefully I can be his teammate forever.

Q. Dusty moved the lineup around little bit. And you guys have hit the ball very well here in Arlington. But does it change your approach when the lineup -- your spot in the lineup changes?

ALEX BREGMAN: Not really. My approach this year has kind of stayed the same, try to get on base for Alvarez. So I don't know, but Dusty does a great job of putting the best team out there and giving us a great chance to win every time. Whatever place we hit in the lineup, we try to go and compete as hard as we can.

Q. Can you tell us a little about the emotional swing of the bases loaded, Alvarez comes up, big hit, and for that to be caught and Abreu to hit the three-run homer, what is the sort of vibe once the team goes back and forth like that?

ALEX BREGMAN: There was two huge at-bats. Yordan's hit two balls 111 to center field that haven't been homers, it's crazy. I've never seen it before in my life. And for him to come through like that time and time again for us, it's huge.

And then Abreu coming up with another big swing, it was massive for our team. And the key to all of that is our pitchers in the bullpen, they come in right after that and give us shutdown innings.

And you've got to tip your hat to Hunter Brown and Maton and Montero for coming in right there, and Stanek made a huge pitch, too. I know he only threw one pitch today, but it was a big one. For those guys to come through in the clutch right there and our bullpen to lock it down, it was great.

Q. Once a game gets going you feel like the offense is rolling, somebody is going to come through. But here in this building before the game starts you guys feel you are putting up numbers. It can't be as easy as you look. What's it about this building?

ALEX BREGMAN: I have no clue, to be honest with you. I think Altuve just does a great job of coming out and setting the tone for us. Dubón right after that. But I don't know, I couldn't tell you. But I think the focus has been really good in the clubhouse.

Q. I was going to say, were you hoping that Altuve would get that home run in that eighth inning? It would have been some nice symmetry in his 100th postseason game?

ALEX BREGMAN: Yeah. Yeah. For sure. It was close. It was close. Yeah, definitely hoping for it.

Q. People on social media say that's kind of your lucky shirt. Do you agree with them and if so, will we see it again?

ALEX BREGMAN: I don't know. I think I'll probably rack it tomorrow.