NL WILD CARD SERIES: METS VS BREWERS

October 1, 2024

J.D. Martinez

Mark Vientos

American Family Field

New York Mets

Postgame Press Conference

Mets - 8, Brewers - 4

Q. J.D., coming in here, I think -- for Mark also, just a lot of thought you guys would be tired coming off of what you've gone through the last few days. Is it possible the opposite was in effect, that you kind of fed off of the momentum of what's happened here?

J.D. MARTINEZ: Yeah, obviously that was a grind there at the end, but you've just got to get into the playoffs. Just get to these games. The fans, the adrenaline, everything takes care of itself. It will get you up.

As tired as we were and as tired as we were after the doubleheader, flying in and coming in and the crowd and the fans and just all the hype around the game, it just gives you the energy and gives you the life.

MARK VIENTOS: Like J.D. said, I'm going to be honest with you, it's hard to be tired when you're playing playoff baseball. I had a bunch of energy. I know all of us did. We were all excited, and we got the job done.

Q. How fired up did it get you guys when Jose Iglesias slid into first base and made it safe there? How fired up was the dugout?

J.D. MARTINEZ: I think that was probably the biggest changing point of the game. You could see the momentum swing right after that. We had a similar situation in Atlanta with Sugar, and you saw it switch right away with Atlanta and then them coming back and having that rally.

I think kind of the same situation here. It's a big point of the game. Hat's off to Iggy because he runs hard after every ball he hits and he's always in there. It's always a bang-bang play at first. And because of that, I think, is kind of what led us today.

Q. Mark, for you in those moments after the Iglesias play, Tyrone scores from third, coming up in those big spots, knowing J.D. is behind you and you guys pinch-hit, how difficult or easy is it to stay locked into those moments emotionally knowing obviously it's a big spot for you guys and not to have that wave of emotions?

MARK VIENTOS: I think before the game, we were kind of talking about emotions and trying to stay even keel. J.D. was just like the guys that keep their emotions the most even keel are the ones that are going to come out on top. So I kind of like ran with that.

When I came up to the plate and I saw Iggy went crazy, showed a lot of energy, I was like I'm just going to simplify. I want to pass the baton. So I drove the ball to right field and didn't try to do too much.

Q. J.D., after a September that you really didn't want to talk about too much, what does it mean to come through on this stage?

J.D. MARTINEZ: Any time you come through, especially with the team, it's why I'm here. I want to win. I want to be a part of the playoffs, and being on a team like this, it's an honor for me. For me, it's just my career's getting to the back end of it, and there's not too many opportunities that you have like this anymore. I just want to come through for the team and do whatever I can to help us win every night.