MLB WORLD SERIES: DIAMONDBACKS VS RANGERS

November 1, 2023

Nathan Eovaldi

Chase Field

Texas Rangers

Postgame 5 Press Conference

Rangers - 5, Diamondbacks - 0

Q. It seemed like you had to deal with a lot of traffic all night. Talk about how you felt and how you got out of that?

NATHAN EOVALDI: Physically, mechanically I felt really good. I just didn't do a very good job of executing my pitches until I needed to. The lead-off walk to start the game, having traffic, like you said, 1 through 5, it wasn't easy. And I was able to make the big pitches when I really needed to.

Defense was great. Evan Carter out there in left field, he made some really good reads out there was able to leave guys, leave them on the base paths, so Jonah and I could make sure we got the job done.

Q. Sometimes starting pitchers will say that they don't really pay attention to what the other starter's doing because they're focused on the other lineup. But tonight, how cognizant were you of how Zac Gallen was throwing just in terms of knowing you were probably going to have to keep throwing up zeros?

NATHAN EOVALDI: I usually sit down in the tunnel. That way I don't get distracted by those things. It's my job to go out there and throw up zeros as well. Zac threw the ball incredible tonight. Kept our offense off balance for a long time.

That's just one of the good things about our offense. You can't say enough good things about them. 1 through 9, they were able to put together quality at-bats and get the job done.

And it was my job to go out there and try to keep the score 0-0 until we're able to get on the board. And we were able to add on in the ninth. It was just really good performance all around.

Q. When you were growing up in Texas in the '90s, early 2000s, what were the Rangers known for, what was the perception of the Rangers, because obviously now you're champions, it's going to be different?

NATHAN EOVALDI: Honestly, for me, I'm from the Houston area and I grew up an Astros fan. For me I grew up watching the Killer Bs and going to the Astrodome games and enjoying that time with my dad.

But now, to be over here and be able to part of the Rangers organization and be able to bring that first World Series championship to us, it's an incredible moment and incredible feeling.

Obviously you start every Spring Training, everybody has the same goal in mind to become World Series champions. And for us to overcome all the adversity and the challenges that we faced from the start of Spring Training on, like all the other teams, but for us to be able to come out on top, it's a very special feeling.

Q. Is it something that players have always been aware of, that, like, the Rangers have never won it? You're striving to get the (indiscernible) first in history?

NATHAN EOVALDI: What, there were six teams before, six teams that had never won it? Now there's five. For to us check that one off the board, it's a big one for us.

And obviously all the guys that are here, ownership and C.Y., give all the credit to them to be able to piece it all together and make it all happen.

Q. As all that traffic develops in the first five innings, is there anything that runs through your mind? Do you talk to yourself, or are you so locked in on what the next sequences are?

NATHAN EOVALDI: It's pitch to pitch. We talk in between innings, like, am I making mistakes? I felt like Carroll hit really good pitches.

He's not the only one. But you're trying to keep them off balance. It's, okay, if I'm walking guys, that's one thing. But when they're getting their hits the way they are, sometimes you tip your hat to it. Other times you've got to make sure you're adjusting with them as well.

I think that's why we were able to leave the runners on base and not allow them all to score is because of the game planning we had.

Q. How exhausting is it to pitch with all those runners on base?

NATHAN EOVALDI: It's tough. Being in one of these moments where it's still 0-0, you want to go out there, go as deep as you can in those ball games. I'm looking at my pitch count, watching it climb. At the same time I'm trying to get quick outs and get the guys back in the dugout because I know how good our offense is.

I feel the faster I can get those guys in the dugout the better opportunities we're going to have to score. And it's again credit to our offense for putting up together quality at-bats and working walks and being able to have Corey get it going.

Q. Going back to your Texas roots, what's your level of Texas pride like? You as a Texan, does it mean more to have those five letters across your chest when you lift the trophy?

NATHAN EOVALDI: It does. It's the only team out there that says Texas. You're playing for the state. You're not playing for the city. For us to be able to represent the state of Texas, it's an incredible feeling.

I feel like as baseball players it's always like, where are you from, Texas, Florida, California. And to be able to say I'm from Texas, it means a lot to me. I carry a lot of pride with it.

Q. Do you own cowboy boots?

NATHAN EOVALDI: I do not.

Q. What can you say about the job that Sborz did behind you tonight and all postseason?

NATHAN EOVALDI: Sborz has been unbelievable for us. When he's healthy, he's one of the nastiest guys out there. And for him to be able to go as many innings as he did tonight, for us to avoid Pico, Pico has been able to do the same thing. But really our whole bullpen.

That's what they would say was our weak point during the whole season. For them to step up the way that they did throughout the whole postseason, you can't give them enough credit.