NL CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES: METS VS DODGERS

October 14, 2024

Edwin Diaz

Mark Vientos

Dodger Stadium

New York Mets

Postgame 2 Press Conference

Mets - 7, Dodgers - 3

Q. Mark, understanding that it's Francisco Lindor that they chose to walk, when they do give an intentional pass ahead of that grand slam does that add anything extra for you when you step up to the plate?

MARK VIENTOS: For sure, I took it personal. I mean, I want to be up there during that at-bat for sure. I want them to walk Lindor in that situation, put me up there. And at that point I was just, let me simplify the game, just get one run in, get a walk -- whatever I can do to add another run to the score. And luckily I hit a bomb there and it went over the fence.

Q. You continue to show in this postseason that you're willing to simplify the game, not try to do too much, and more often it's led to big results. Why do you think you've been this comfortable doing that in your first taste of Major League Baseball postseason?

MARK VIENTOS: I think, honestly, it's right there. Just when I say I'm simplifying the game, I'm just focused on one thing. And the only thing I'm focused on is winning the game. And whatever I can do, whether it's move a runner over, make a play, be a good teammate, that's what I want to do, because the only focus I have is winning games.

Q. You mentioned that you took a press on that. Do you think that people still underestimate you a little bit despite what you've done this October, as good as your numbers have been?

MARK VIENTOS: Maybe. But I feel like it's just the praise for Francisco. You've got Francisco ahead of me, and he hit a home run earlier in the game. So they would rather take a chance on me than him.

But I use it as motivation. I'm like, all right, you want me up, I'm going to show you, whatever.

Q. Do you feel as you're working him during that long at-bat that the at-bat is going to come back to you, that you're going to get that fastball that you wound up getting, the deeper that goes, seven, eight, nine pitches in?

MARK VIENTOS: I didn't think he was going to give me a fastball. That was my approach was to see a heater up, but I wasn't expecting heater. I thought I was going to get like a slider and I was just going to poke it in the hole or something.

Q. You got the fastball?

MARK VIENTOS: Yeah, I wasn't going to miss it.

Q. Edwin, what's your mindset there coming in the eighth? And then you have to face the heart of the order in the ninth?

EDWIN DÍAZ: I was trying to throw strikes. First of all, as soon as I get to the mound I say, Alvie, whatever you call, I'll follow you. He called me three, four sliders in a row. I threw it, we got the out in the eighth.

And in the ninth I tried to throw strikes, attack the hitters because we were winning by four runs. I got a good lead to challenge them. That's what I did, I gave up the blooper and then I walked Ohtani. And then a trust my fastball and threw it right in the middle for them.

Q. Edwin, you've never given up a hit to Ohtani. I think he's 0-for-4, couple of walks. What's your secret? You seemed to figure it out.

EDWIN DÍAZ: My last two ABs against him I walk him. At the same time I just try to challenge him. He's one of the best hitters in the league, but I've got really good stuff.

I trust my stuff always against any hitters. To him, I just go after him. Hit the ball, if you get to two strikes, I will make you chase.

Q. Edwin, having a three-run lead going into the ninth is great. But when you have those hitters -- Ohtani, Betts, Freeman, Hernández -- when they get an extra run, you have a four-run lead. Does that make you feel better. Does it make you feel like I can be even freer as a pitcher in the ninth inning?

EDWIN DÍAZ: Yeah, I have more room to miss. If I miss a pitch right in the middle, I've got a lot of room to tighten it up again.

So as soon as I give up the base hit, the walk, I said I would throw my fastball right in the middle, try to get a double play. I ended up striking out the other three hitters, but I was trying to make pitches and get them out.

Q. Mark, you have guys on this roster who played in the World Series before, played in the postseason before. For you, getting a full season to kind of get that vibe -- you guys have been playing basically postseason baseball since June -- what have you kind of gained watching these older guys who have done it that you tried to put into your game?

MARK VIENTOS: I mean, I've been a sponge around all these guys, all these guys with experience, all stars. A lot of them great players I'm surrounded by, I'm very fortunate.

I ask a lot of questions. I ask them, especially in times like this, like, I haven't been in the postseason, and it's just like, hey, how do I go about this?

And I know J.D., he won a World Series, and he kind of like brings the guys together and kind of tells us, like, just to keep our emotions even-keeled, especially if the opponent goes up and we're down or vice versa, like, we want to stay even-keeled throughout the whole game because the team that keeps their emotions like that the best are the ones that come out on top. So I feel like that's what I've been focused on.

Q. How do you feel about this series going back home with it 1-1?

MARK VIENTOS: I feel good, man. Like I said earlier, I want to go home. Playing in front of the New York fans is the best. I'm excited to get back.

EDWIN DÍAZ: Personally, I feel great. Getting a W here in LA, going back home, play three more games there. We've got a lot of chance to take the series then at home. So I feel really good. We are really happy. We played a really good game today. Just continue what we're doing and we will be fine.