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AL CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES: TIGERS v RANGERS

October 12, 2011

Ron Washington

DETROIT, MICHIGAN: Game Four

Texas Rangers Â– 7
Detroit Tigers - 3

THE MODERATOR: First question for Ron Washington, please.

Q. Hey, Wash, can you talk about the great series that Nelson is having and making the great defensive play and coming back and hitting another 11th inning home run today?
RON WASHINGTON: Today we certainly needed what he gave us. For you guys that haven't seen Nelson every day, he's capable of doing exactly what he's doing. I'm just happy that we as the Texas Rangers are reaping the benefit of it.
We've been waiting for it for a long time, and as I always say, I don't judge Nelson just because he hits balls out the ballpark. He's a complete player. He takes pride in every part of the game. Tonight it was thank you Nelson Cruz.

Q. Wash, you had said a couple of weeks ago that Mike Napoli meant so much to this club and you had said a little something about how when he was talking about being in Anaheim, it was so good for him to be here, that he finally belonged. Can you talk a little bit about him as a defensive player and making two big defensive plays tonight holding on to the ball and also throwing out Austin Jackson?
RON WASHINGTON: Well, you know, Mike is a quality baseball player. I call him a dirt bag, because he's a gamer, and he tries to do whatever it takes to help his team win a ballgame. He's always putting quality at-bats up there for you, and tonight was a huge base hit for us.
You're right with Cabrera coming down the line, could have scared him off, but he caught that ball and he made sure that he had it, and he took the lick.
Tampa Bay, we called a pitchout. He made an excellent throw right there with Austin Jackson running we needed him to make an excellent throw. He did. Whatever part of the game we need him to excel in. Since he joined us, he's been excelling in it. We are very happy to have him a part of our club.

Q. Ron, I want to ask about the intentional walk in the eighth. Pretty unusual strategy, but it obviously worked out for you.
RON WASHINGTON: It almost didn't, but we tried to pitch around Cabrera twice, and he got us. So this time I wasn't taking any chance. And it almost came back and bit me. But he's the best baseball player out there. I mean, this guy can just do so much.
As the year went on, he got better as a defensive player. He made a tremendous play yesterday. You know, I just was not going to let him take a swing of the bat, because I took chances before, and he made me pay for it both times.
First time shame on you, next time shame on me. I respect Martinez a heck of a lot. Once again, he got that base hit and we almost paid for it, but I certainly wasn't going to let him have a swing of the bat there and beat us.

Q. In the ninth, was that a mixup with Cruz when he got caught on the late jump to second?
RON WASHINGTON: No, that was Cruz trying to improvise and trying to do something. It's pretty tough when Benoit is out there, because he takes so long to deliver the ball, and he timed him, and he went a split second longer than he expected.

Q. Ron, what's it mean when you get a unifying performance from a catcher like that for your team? What does it do overall for helping the team?
RON WASHINGTON: He pumps everyone up. Mike Napoli, I call him a dirt bag. Because that's the way he plays. He's just been tremendous for us the way he help out with young pitchers get through innings. The way he leads in that clubhouse. The way he leads on the bench. He not only brought quality play, but he also brought leadership to go along with the leadership we already had here.
THE MODERATOR: Ron, thank you very much.

FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports

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