MLB WORLD SERIES: DIAMONDBACKS VS RANGERS

October 28, 2023

Bruce Bochy

Globe Life Field

Texas Rangers

Postgame 2 Press Conference

Diamondbacks - 9, Rangers - 1

Q. What made Merrill Kelly a tough assignment today for you guys?

BRUCE BOCHY: Just great command. He hit his spots all night, four pitches. He was on. He's tough when he's on. He's been pitching well in the postseason and carried that into tonight's game.

Q. You ever think there's going to be a complete game in the postseason? There hasn't been one since 2017, none in the World Series since 2015. You had Bumgarner do it in the Wild Card.

BRUCE BOCHY: I don't know, to be honest, I've gotta think there will be at some point. It's not really something I've been thinking about.

Q. I know it was regular rest for Jordan, but how do you feel the relief outing might have taken him out of his routine, at all?

BRUCE BOCHY: He was pitching well. Here he was in the seventh, the pitch count was good. Had a one-run ball game. Gave up the double and then the ground ball just got through, just got by Josh there.

But to answer your question, that's always a hard one to answer. But he felt good. He was in a good place as far as pitch count, like I said. I don't know how much it affected him. But he's not saying it did.

Q. On Montgomery, at this point in time, right, everybody's fatigued. But the velo was down, the spin rate was down. Do you look at any of that stuff? Does that tell you anything about him at this point in time?

BRUCE BOCHY: You look at that. But he was pitching well. He's done such a great job. And that is something you have to be aware of, a left-hander leading off the inning. We said we'll let him start it, and then we brought in Heaney. And how it becomes a three-run ball game.

But, yeah, I think you have to look at that. But still, you look at the man, he's got the ability to pitch if it's down a tick a little bit. And he showed that tonight.