AL WILD CARD SERIES: ROYALS VS ORIOLES

October 1, 2024

Maikel Garcia

Camden Yards

Kansas City Royals

Postgame Press Conference

Kansas City Royals 1, Baltimore Orioles 0

Q. When you get on base, how quickly are you looking to take the bag there, and how much of a part is that a part of your game, your identity?

MAIKEL GARCIA: You've got to study the pitcher. We knew he was low going to the plate and we were all looking to get on base and go to second.

Q. Given how well Burnes was pitching, when you were able to work that walk, are you immediately thinking, I've got to get to second because this is our shot to score?

MAIKEL GARCIA: Yeah, I told everybody, all my teammates, we know he's a good pitcher, and as soon as I worked the walk, I was automatic. I was just trying to go to second base.

Q. We've talked about this before, just getting on base for Bobby and Vinnie and Salvy, how much does that change without Vinnie in the last month, and getting him back today, getting those three back in the lineup, what does that do for you guys?

MAIKEL GARCIA: It was a challenge in the past couple weeks. He's a great RBI hitter, and with that challenge, we moved on, and now that he's back in the lineup, we've definitely got an upgrade?

Q. You've gotten to play with Cole all season long. What makes him such a good pitcher, and what particularly did you see today that was working?

MAIKEL GARCIA: He showed it all year. We have trust in him since the beginning, and he proved today that he belongs in an environment like this.

Q. How was your first experience playing in a playoff environment in the big leagues like in your opinion?

MAIKEL GARCIA: I got to play in a big stage in Venezuela, and it's different but you just think about it being the same game and just trying to get hits and get on.

Q. How confident does it make you when you're on base or when you see a teammate on base and then you see Bobby or Vinnie or Salvy get in the batter's box?

MAIKEL GARCIA: They prove all season that they can get RBIs, and two of them got a hundred RBIs. Vinnie didn't because he got hurt. You know that they are good hitters when they step into the box.

Q. You mentioned that you played winter ball in Venezuela and that that was a similar experience. How did today's playoff atmosphere compare to the games you played for Tiburones?

MAIKEL GARCIA: It's a bit different. It's louder. It seems like people don't go quiet in Venezuela. Here, they get a little quiet in between pitches, so you can definitely notice it.