AL DIVISION SERIES: TIGERS VS GUARDIANS

October 10, 2024

Jose Ramirez

Emmanuel Clase

Comerica Park

Cleveland Guardians

Postgame 4 Press Conference

Cleveland - 5, Detroit - 4

Q. For each of you guys, just given how the series had gone for you individually, how badly did you want to have the performance tonight for your team?

JOSE RAMIREZ: It was really important for us to play this game. We're really excited to get the chance to play this game and now even more excited to get back home, be able to play, and have the confidence in my guys that we'll be able to have our best game come Saturday.

Q. Emmanuel, how nice was it to get back out there given what happened in Game 2, and did you know that you maybe asked to get more than three outs tonight?

EMMANUEL CLASE: A lot of strong emotions, getting back to this game, I was really excited to get to the mound, especially getting the trust back from the manager to get me in that role and that responsibility. So I was really excited to be there and be comfortable for my team.

Q. And did you know that you might be used for more than --

EMMANUEL CLASE: They didn't tell me anything specific, but I know, given the circumstances of the playoff, I know I'm ready to pitch two innings, if needed.

Q. Jose, how good did it feel to hit the home run? And it looked like you were pretty excited. You slammed the bat down. I mean, I know you've been scuffling a little bit in the postseason.

JOSE RAMIREZ: It was really a moment because I was really looking forward to find ways how to help the team, and the little bat flick was to kind of let all the energy go because I just really wanted to help the guys.

Q. Jose, we've seen David Fry come through in so many different situations and so many different -- being asked to do so many different things. He hits the home run. He lays down the sacrifice bunt. For you guys, what's the confidence level when he's out there and being asked to do things like that, and how much does he mean to this team?

JOSE RAMIREZ: I'm really happy for him. I feel he has been the spot for us the whole year. Whenever we've been asked to do things on defense, on offense he's always the guy to come through, and we always expect him, and excited for the year he had so far.

Q. You fall behind 0-1. Holton has got a really good change-up. Are you looking for that pitch, and is that what you were trying to do with that one?

JOSE RAMIREZ: Yeah, in that situation I was looking for off speed. And I know he has a good change-up, and I was trying to look him up, and I ended up getting a good connection on the ball.

Q. How difficult do you expect the challenge to be to face Skubal on Saturday?

JOSE RAMIREZ: I mean, we're going out to compete. I feel asked the same question how is it going to feel facing our lineup as well. We've faced him countless times in the past. We've got good results. They have good results.

So it's going to be a competition. And I trust my guys to go after it and do our best.

Q. Jose or Emmanuel, what was the key to getting the offense started after you've lost two games 3-0?

EMMANUEL CLASE: I mean, we keep cheering for each other, rooting for each other. And obviously we know we can do this, and we always remind of the things we can do and try to help us be our best.

Q. Emmanuel, coming out you went almost exclusively to the cutter. Just how much was that part of the game plan, especially just given the success that they had against the slider last time?

EMMANUEL CLASE: Yeah, it's the same attitude this game. They were really coming after the fastball and getting ready for the slider as well because the results they got the previous game. And I gotta keep trusting my best pitch, and that's why I was trying to execute the cutter as much as needed.