AL CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES: GUARDIANS VS YANKEES

October 17, 2024

Matthew Boyd

Progressive Field

Cleveland Guardians

Postgame 3 Press Conference

Guardians 7, Yankees 5 (10)

Q. Matthew, I don't know where you were in the ninth inning, but could you take us through your perspective of Noel's home run and what he's meant for you guys?

MATTHEW BOYD: Yeah, I mean, Jhonkensy is awesome, man. Our group is resilient. We have had this next-man-up mentality all year long.

You just knew something good was going to happen. Those guys coming up to the plate. Man, it's not the first time that he's come through in a huge moment like that. So happy for him. It was awesome.

Q. Can you explain the swing of emotions from Stanton and Judge's home runs to (indiscernible)?

MATTHEW BOYD: Yeah, a ton. I don't know if there's many words for it, but I guess that's postseason baseball, man. Those guys are a good squad.

Obviously that guy over there is going to be the MVP. He took one of the guys that's going to be in there for Cy Young on an amazing pitch. That was a clash, and then going forward to Lane and David and Jonko, just guys doing it over and over again, there's a ton of emotions.

But I think that game is who we are, right? You go back and you look and think of some of those key plays, what Giménez did on that play right there to keep -- essentially putting a guy on third base, keeping him on second, getting an out there more than anything was amazing.

That whole game was who we are as a ballclub. That's Guards' baseball.

Q. How about your pitching performance tonight? Would you rate that as probably one of your best?

MATTHEW BOYD: I mean, I'd like to eliminate maybe some of those walks. The walk to Volpe, that came around to score especially. But Hedgy did a great job back there. He was money, mixing pitches. He's so solid. He's so big to this ballclub, and then Bo picked right up where he left off when Bo came in the game, and they did a great job back there.

Q. I think you retired 9 of the last 10 batters you faced and 7 of them on ground balls. What was so effective for you to get the ground ball out?

MATTHEW BOYD: Changing speeds. I think we got ground balls on a changeup, curve ball slider and a heater. It was just pitching. The at-bat -- Hedgy does a great job back there. We were just reading swings, and he knew what was right, and it was a lot of credit to him.

Q. Now three postseason starts for you and I think it's easier to do something when you've done it a few times. Is there something about being in this moment, in a game of this magnitude and knowing your teammates are trusting you with the ball in a game where you have to pin? Is it getting more comfortable for you at this point?

MATTHEW BOYD: I mean, I don't know if comfort is the right word, but I can't get enough of it. I think I can speak for all 26 guys in there that we all feel the same way. It's put it in your vein sort of thing. It's awesome. Whatever role we're asked to do, we'll do it to get a W.

Q. Obviously it was a tough night for Clase. Can you speak to how the team tried to pick him up after a frustrating performance for him?

MATTHEW BOYD: Our ballclub is next guy up. That guy is an all-world closer. He has the ball every single time with the game on the line, and I'm going to take him over whoever is in the box every single time. Our whole club feels the same way. That guy is amazing.

What happened after is just who we are as a team. We just keep fighting. Like I said, it's in our DNA, and that's what we hang our hat on.