MLB WORLD SERIES: YANKEES VS DODGERS

October 29, 2024

Austin Wells

Yankee Stadium

New York Yankees

Postgame 4 Press Conference

Yankees - 11, Dodgers - 4

Q. What was it like when Anthony hit the grand slam just for the lift for the whole building, just everything for you guys? What was that feeling like?

AUSTIN WELLS: That was sick. When he hit that ball, like I knew it was hard off the bat and we were going to score some runs. Then it went over the wall, and I was like, oh, my God, that was -- that felt a little bit like when Judgey hit the grand slam off the Red Sox earlier in the year. Obviously a bigger stage, but that was pretty cool to watch from the on deck circle.

Q. With all the tension you guys had going into this game knowing what you had to do, did that ease it some? Did it feel like it took a little weight off? I know it's early in the game.

AUSTIN WELLS: Yeah, I think so. I think just getting the lead early was important tonight, and he gave us that with that one swing, and that was huge.

It allowed us to keep the lead and keep pushing and have aggressive at-bats.

Q. Anthony was just talking about how you guys have a brotherhood more than a friendship. Just knowing his background, childhood Yankees fan, from the area, what do you think tonight meant to him?

AUSTIN WELLS: I can't even imagine honestly. Just his whole family going way back to being Yankee fans, him being at the parade in '09, growing up a Yankees fan, now being the shortstop, hit a grand slam in the World Series in a must-win game, I mean, it doesn't get any better than that honestly for the New York Yankees. So that's pretty cool.

Q. You guys obviously came up together in the organization. How many times would you say you guys talked about having a night like this whenever you guys made it to the majors together?

AUSTIN WELLS: Yeah, I think the cool part about coming up together was that we both had the same goals coming up here and being able to help contribute to a winning team and knowing that our goal was to help win a World Series.

So I think for the both of us being here in this position, I think that was kind of something that we both felt we could bring to the table, and it's pretty cool to be here.

Q. You guys have kind of all been slumping together a little bit for the last few games. To watch everybody break out of the slump at the same time, how much confidence does that give as you now continue to try to do what you're trying to do?

AUSTIN WELLS: Honestly, I feel like it really just takes one big swing, and I feel like that was Volpe's big swing there. It allowed everyone to just take a deep breath and have fun.

I think also the situation we were in, I think that we just kind of needed to say screw it and go after it and have fun because some guys may never come back to the World Series again. So enjoying the game, and I think that allowed us to play a lot looser tonight.

Q. On an individual level, Austin, what did it mean to you to get a couple extra base hits after a difficult few weeks?

AUSTIN WELLS: Yeah, it felt great to be able to contribute with the bat. Yeah, it felt great.

Q. Is there anything about yesterday being out of the lineup that you think helped you today, whether it was physical rest briefly or a mental rest or anything?

AUSTIN WELLS: I don't know. Yeah, I don't know.

Q. Also, what level of confidence does it give you knowing now you have Gerrit on the mound for another must-win game?

AUSTIN WELLS: Yeah, having the ace on the mound for another must-win game, like you said, if you don't have all the confidence in the world, I don't know what you're going to have. I think we have a lot of confidence in him to be able to go out tomorrow, give us a quality start, and put us in a good position to win the game. But we'll see what happens.

Q. You mentioned the feeling of just screw it and be loose. Was it one by one everyone feeling it, some discussions, or just a group mindset?

AUSTIN WELLS: Kind of felt it after last night, like down 3-0, like why not go out tomorrow and have fun? Like see what happens.

Q. Did you all say that to each other?

AUSTIN WELLS: Not really. I feel like it just kind of was mutual, just a mutual feeling. Knowing that this was the last guaranteed day of baseball for the season, definitely didn't want to take it for granted and wanted to enjoy the moment.

Q. Austin, the bullpen once again came through. What's been the key to it night after night, but particularly in a critical game like this?

AUSTIN WELLS: They've been great, like you said, every single game for us. Putting us in position to win the game every time this whole postseason. For them to be coming out here and guys throwing back-to-back nights, and some guys will throw back to back to back tomorrow.

So I think just the fact that they're doing what they're doing, keeping us close in games against a really good lineup, you can't appreciate them any more than we do.

Q. You talked about being loose and why not just go out. What's it like now to live to play another day?

AUSTIN WELLS: It feels the same. Like just have fun and see what happens. No one's done what we're trying to accomplish, so I think if you put too much pressure on it at this point, like it's just going to -- you're going to fail yourself, and you're not going to enjoy the journey.

I think seeing what happens and having fun is where we're at.

Q. Your manager talked about how cool it was to have Yankee Stadium explode today, the fans the way they were. What did that feel like on the field and in the dugout?

AUSTIN WELLS: Yeah, after Volpe's homer or his grand slam, like the place was shaking, I felt the ground literally shaking. These fans, they expect wins, and when you have a big home run like that to kind of spark the team like Volpe did, he got some well-deserved praise there. So that was awesome.

Q. Is there anything with your swing or the way you feel at the plate that clicked or felt good today that you can take into tomorrow and beyond?

AUSTIN WELLS: I just tried to slow it down and have fun. Didn't put too much pressure on any pitch, any count, any at-bat. So just went up there and tried to have a good swing and really just slow it down.

Q. As much as you're trying to not put pressure on yourself really, when you do come through like that, does it yet relieve pressure?

AUSTIN WELLS: Yeah, I mean, last night I feel like all the pressure just kind of went away, for me at least personally. We were down 3-0 and it was like I feel like the pressure is on them to win the last game. That gave me just kind of like that release of pressure there.

But like pressure is something that I welcome. It's good to have pressure. It means that we're in a good spot and people are counting on you. So I enjoy the pressure.