AL DIVISION SERIES: TIGERS VS GUARDIANS

October 7, 2024

Stephen Vogt

Progressive Field

Cleveland Guardians

Postgame 2 Press Conference

Detroit - 3, Cleveland - 0

Q. Stephen, you guys have had a lot of dramatic victories this season. What's the reaction when you have to deal with a loss like that?

STEPHEN VOGT: I mean, we've lost games like this before as well. Maybe not this exact game, but we're resilient. We're going to fight right back on Wednesday. It was such a great baseball game tonight. That was a lot of fun, pitching on both sides. And they just got the big hit, and we didn't.

Q. What did you see from Clase tonight?

STEPHEN VOGT: I thought obviously got the first two outs, and then they were able to get a couple of singles off him. I haven't seen the replay yet. Looked like he left a slider out over for Carpenter, and he didn't miss it. He's a really good hitter and just looked like he left a slider over the plate.

Q. Knowing just how much he's spoiled you guys this year and how it's probably unfair to have the expectations that everyone has for him to be perfect, what is that moment of going out on the mound? It looked like he tapped you on the shoulder too as he's coming off the mound. What's that like for having that quick exchange with him in that?

STEPHEN VOGT: Yeah. Emmanuel has been locked down all year. He's been nearly perfect, like you said, and he's human, too. These things are going to happen, and it's unfortunate the timing of when it did, but at the same time he's going to have the ball in the ninth again. This is the best closer in the game for a reason, and they just happened to get him tonight.

Q. What did you see from Skubal, and how can you guys combat that if it does go to a Game 5?

STEPHEN VOGT: I mean, he was outstanding. He's the best pitcher in the American League starting-wise all year for a reason. Both his fastballs were moving a ton. He was hitting his spots, good sliders, good change-ups.

He kept us off balance. He kept making pitches. And we didn't get much, if anything, to hit out over the plate. Naylor hit the double there. Rocchio got us going. Kwany with a little single, and then we hit two really hard grounds balls right at them for double plays. Just the way it go sometimes.

He's been the pitcher he is for a reason. We knew we had our work cut out for us, and he was special tonight.

Q. When you went to get Boyd there in the fifth, it looked like there was exchange there. What was that, and what can you say about his efforts?

STEPHEN VOGT: That was really fun to watch Matthew go out there. He was great, and I just told him, I said, Way to go. You did a great job.

And he was pumped. Man, he should be. He should be really proud of himself to come in, two-thirds of the way through the year, give us a ton of quality starts in regular season and then give us that outing today. He's done a phenomenal job for us, and did it again today.

Q. Can you share your perspective on both Kwan's catch and Noel's throw to second base?

STEPHEN VOGT: Yeah. Noel's throw, we had a great vantage point, right on the money. Just Rocchio was waiting for it to get to him. Just an unbelievable play. Jhonkensy has played outstanding defense for us. He's made a number of throws like that. And Kwany doing Kwany things. Perez put a good swing on Clase's pitch, and Kwan came out of nowhere. Great diving catch.

Q. When Clase has just been as dominant as he's been this year, do you guys consider at all in that moment to walk Carpenter, or do you say let's just get this out?

STEPHEN VOGT: No. You got the best pitcher in the world on the mound. You're going to let him face any hitter. Again, Carpenter is a phenomenal hitter. He got a mistake slider, and he didn't miss it. Gotta tip your cap.

Q. Stephen, you mentioned how great of a game this was. How do you manage to still feel that while also dealing with the responsibilities you have as manager?

STEPHEN VOGT: I love baseball. You couldn't help but watch that game and not enjoy it. We were unfortunately on the losing end of it, and that game could have gone any way at any time. And like I said, Emmanuel has been so good for us, and everything went right until Carpenter squared up that slider.

So it is what it is. We're tied in the series. We have an opportunity to go to Detroit and take Game 3. That's all we can really ask for.

Q. Stephen, what was behind the thinking of using Clase in the 8th inning?

STEPHEN VOGT: Felt like we wanted to get our best pitcher in there in that moment. Like I said, he's been the best pitcher in baseball all year, and with the game on the line, we wanted to go get 'em. And he's gone multiples a couple different times for us this year. So wanted to come in there and stop the game with Clase, and he did.

Q. Cade Smith looked great again having to sit twice and go back out there. What's it like being able to rely on a rookie like that to pitch multiple innings in a postseason game?

STEPHEN VOGT: Our bullpen has been who we are all year, and Cade's been a big part of that as well. He does everything we ask of him. Like I said, his work ethic is second to none, and his stuff is great. And to have a weapon like that is huge.

Tip the cap to both sides. Everybody threw the ball well tonight. Like I said, it was a really fun game. It was exciting. We just happened to be on the losing end, and we're ready to get back after it on Wednesday.