Brewers - 3, Rays - 2
Q. Jackson, what is it about that first pitch? And have you ever had anybody ever in your life lecture you about being patient and you said no, first pitch is mine?
JACKSON CHOURIO: No, the way I've always looked at it is it's important to start with a good foot ahead. So if I have the opportunity to do that, I'm going to take advantage.
Q. (Question in Spanish)?
WILLIAM CONTRERAS: I think in today's game I take defense over offense. Some of the plays there, I think there were some close plays with runners on third, but scoring opportunities for them.
God was able to gift me that one today, a complete game on both sides, but I think I told you directly yesterday that my goal is to go out there and find a way to win the game whether that be offensively or defensively.
Q. William, coming into tonight's game, the Rays were 10 for 10 in the postseason for stolen bases, 0 for 2 tonight. We just heard Kevin Cash say they're not going to change their approach. They're going to continue to be aggressive. Talk about what your thoughts were coming into tonight's game.
WILLIAM CONTRERAS: Tampa Bay's got a tremendous team. A lot of respect for all the guys over there and the way that they play the game. I think it's something that we knew coming into the game. If that was part of their success throughout the regular season, then I think they should stay by it and staying on what made them successful throughout the season. It's a part of their game, and I think they should stick to it.
No, obviously good game on my part there behind the dish, but I thought they played a great game as well. I think all in all on both sides, it was just a tremendous, exciting game tonight.
Q. (Question in Spanish)?
WILLIAM CONTRERAS: In comparison of the WBC to obviously the game tonight, both are tremendously important to me. I think the letters that I wear across my chest when I'm representing my country have a little bit more weight to them, but at the same time, for me, like I said, I'm always going to go out there and give everything I have. I'm always going to go out there and compete and do whatever I can.
I think there were similarities between the Classic and the game today and some things that I was able to take with me, but regardless of what game it is, I'm a player that likes to play with a lot of passion and a lot of energy, and I'm going to do that.
JACKSON CHOURIO: For me obviously, the Classic was one of the best experiences of my life as well, what it meant to me. Echoing off of William, the weight that you wear across your chest.
Honestly I think in these games today, there's a little bit less pressure, it felt like, compared to maybe the World Baseball Classic. Some of the pressure was removed maybe in some of the earlier rounds of the playoffs, and I felt a little bit more free just to go out there and play my game.
Q. William, it always seems like you always know when to go to the mound and sort of put your arm around your pitchers. When did that start for you? Where did that come from? Is that something you always had?
WILLIAM CONTRERAS: No, that was something for me that this year I definitely took it a little bit more personal and upon myself to make a point of that and to go out there and talk maybe a little bit more stern to the pitchers.
It's kind of my way of giving them some confidence and giving them a boost, the lift they need whenever they're out there on the mound. I'm not sure how some of the guys take it, but that was something for me that was a priority of mine coming into this year and something that I made the adjustment on.
Q. William, how would you compare just the joy of throwing a guy out compared to like, say, a big hit or something like that?
WILLIAM CONTRERAS: Yeah, very comparable. I know the game, so I know that the two runners that I was able to throw out today meant a lot in the game and could have been a big difference in the game.
So like you said, they really are very comparable, but what I was able to do defensively today I think means a little bit more to me.
Q. (Question in Spanish)?
JACKSON CHOURIO: I think on my end, for me it's always been a little bit of a question of more anxious feelings than pressure. I think I've always seen it in that light.
Yeah, I think with these series and with the days off in between, I think there was some anxiousness for the games to begin and ready for the games to begin and get them -- we know that these are the last games of the season here.
WILLIAM CONTRERAS: In regards to the ABS, going through a good moment right now, and I think the ABS is kind of similar to hitting in a season. You might go through a slump. Right now I think I'm going through a good moment with it, and I've got to take advantage of that.
Fortunately I was able to go 2 for 2 today on challenges and also be able to save some that maybe I could have used but knowing that there's potential to maybe use them later on in the game that ended up ultimately not having to do so.
Q. William, you've got a manager who believes in you to the utmost. Today he called you the player of the game. He talked during this run about your competitiveness and not wanting to take a single day off from your very first year here and beyond. What's it mean to know your manager appreciates all the little things you do to help this thing tick?
WILLIAM CONTRERAS: I think Murphy's always been someone that's very special to me. I think in a lot of ways we share some similar personality traits. We want to win, and I think any time Murphy's had to say something to me, he's been very honest with me, and he's told me directly to my face. That's something I appreciate, and I think that's something we share in common.
I think when it comes to playing every day, that's something I'm always going to prepare to do. That's always a goal of mine. Why I work so hard in the offseason is to -- if I feel good, if I feel ready to play, I'm going to expect to be in there.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports