NL DIVISION SERIES: METS VS PHILLIES

October 8, 2024

Starling Marte

Jose Iglesias

Citi Field

New York Mets

Postgame 3 Press Conference

Q. Starling, obviously the key to succeeding in these moments is not putting too much pressure on yourself. But in that particular moment, how aware of you of the fact you guys had the bases loaded, nobody out, and it was on you to find a way to make sure you cashed in?

STARLING MARTE: I think the key for me there was to keep the ball up. I've done harm to myself by chasing.

In a situation there when you have men on base, it's to see the ball up and try to keep the ball up the middle. At that point you want to help the team win and do what's best for the team in that situation. That's what ended up in the situation.

Q. You've obviously been great, two outs, runners in scoring situation. But the team has been really good at putting together two-out rallies. Why do you think as a group you guys have been so good at that?

JOSE IGLESIAS: We're just competing. We put a quality at-bat. I would say what he took from Ruiz, putting a good swing on it, find a hole and score another two runs.

Q. For both of you guys, how much do you want to close this thing out tomorrow and not give the Phillies any oxygen here?

JOSE IGLESIAS: It's important. Every game is important. Tonight game was very important; tomorrow game is going to be even more important. Every game matter. Most definitely we're going to go up there with same energy and try to compete and try to win every inning.

STARLING MARTE: Yeah, for sure. I think tomorrow it's obviously an important game. Obviously we want to win because it brings us closer to our ultimate goal. At the same time, we can't try to do too much, we kind of have to play within ourselves and just go out there and do our job. But at the same time, we want to be able to go out there and celebrate and win.

Q. Jose, what are you thinking when you come up with the bases loaded twice in two innings, and how does your approach change when you come up there no outs versus two outs?

JOSE IGLESIAS: Just try to put the ball in play, like I say. In playoff you're facing the best pitchers. They're going to make pitches. And like I said, I just was able to find a mistake from Ruiz and then I just find a hole, like I said.

When you put the ball in play, good things happen, and it shows there for Marte, it shows there for me. The whole team did a great job competing that inning. It was pretty special.

Q. How would you guys describe tonight's performance?

STARLING MARTE: No, you really got to tip your cap to Sean for the performance that he had. We can't be more grateful for him in a situation like that, where he went out there and he was essentially dominating, striking out the guys that he needed, and even going out for that eighth inning and trying to continue to do the job.

It was a tremendous effort by him. And just an outing that we definitely needed.