Diamondbacks Locker Room Reaction After Win in LA

Players speak about team win after going up 2-0 in the NLDS against the Dodgers

Last night the Diamondbacks continued their storybook run in the 2023 postseason with a 4-2 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers. That put them up two games to none in the best of five series with a chance to clinch back home at Chase Field in Arizona. If you haven't had a chance yet, be sure to check out Michael McDermott's game recap with quotes and reaction from Torey Lovullo and Zac Gallen. 

Lourdes Gurriel Jr. (2-4, HR, 1 run, 2 RBI). Check out the video at the top of the article. The outfielder talked about hunting a slider, which he got down and away and somehow managed to pull out of the stadium for a big insurance run in the 6th inning. He also talked about how he's become so good at going back on balls over his head after snaring a tough line drive to start the bottom of the ninth. 

Corbin Carroll (1-2, 1 Run, 3 Walks)

"I wouldn't say this is what a lot of people expected. I definitely feel like a lot of things went our way in a positive way. Getting out of here with two wins is huge." 

The Diamondbacks have been on the road since finishing game 162 on October 1st.  Now they finally get to go back home and play in front of their home fans. 

"I'm definitely looking forward to the energy that the fans are going to bring. It's been a pretty long time since playoff baseball's been in Arizona, so getting to play in front of them is going to be pretty special."

Ketel Marte (2-5, 1 Run) 

Normally relied upon to get extra base hits and homers to drive in runs, Marte saw an opportunity with third baseman Max Muncy playing back to bunt for a base hit with  Corbin Carroll on first base. 

"It's a playoff situation, we are in the playoffs, we're playing to win. If they do it again, I will do it again."  

Marte seldom bunts and got a 98 MPH pitch a little up and out over the plate and dropped down a perfect bunt to reach safely giving the D-backs first and second with nobody out in an inning they'd eventually score three runs. 

"I was just looking for a fastball. In my mind I was like if he throws me a fastball I'll bunt and he threw me a fastball up and that was a good pitch to bunt."

Speaking of the performances of Zac Gallen and Merrill Kelly

"Thats the kind of pitchers they are. It's not a surprise. I know Kelly and Gallen are the best pitchers we have and I'm glad they did the job"

Tommy Pham (2-5, 1 run, Key Stolen Base in three run first)

With Pham on first and Marte on third with one out and Gabriel Moreno at the plate Pham got a great jump and stole second base without even a throw down to second. That kept the double play off and Moreno drove in Marte with a grounder to short that would have been an inning ending double play without Pham's heads up base running. After giving credit to Marte's team play, he Pham spoke about his own role in that inning. 

What goes unnoticed is kind of the stolen base. Because that took away the double play. That gave us two extra runs. So thank goodness I've been working on my jumps, and that's why I work on my speed in the off season. (chuckles)

Pham had a great take and football parallel on the team concept in the lineup

"It was just such a great team win. A lot of things that aren't in the box score really go unnoticed. When you make pitchers throw more pitches when you're grinding out at bats it really gives us an advantage. It gives the pitcher extra rest in between innings. There really is like a time of possession thing in baseball. It's not really talked about, but it's talked about amongst the game"

On the starting pitching:

Not bad, not bad....(laughter) I joke with this guys because they're not able to go nine. 

Geraldo Perdomo (0-1, 1 walk, 2 sacrifice hits, 1 CS)

While Perdomo had a quiet night at the plate his defense was spot on as he helped turn two key double plays and also got a close force out in the middle of a Dodger rally.  Perdomo had the highest fielding percentage among every day NL shortstops this year, (.989, four errors in 868 innings at shortstop) and was involved in the 7th most double plays despite starting just 97 games at the position. 

"Thats how we win a game. If we play really good defense, we're going to win games. That's what happened tonight. We had so many ground balls. Marte and I had a couple of double plays. I think defense wins baseball games." 

During the TBS broadcast Bob Costas spoke about Perdomo as a Gold Glove candidate due to his low error total and fielding percentage. Asked about that he responded in typical manner, deflecting to his coach. 

"If I had that opportunity I would be so happy for T.P. [Infield Coach Tony Perezchica]. We are working hard every single day. If I win it, I'd feel happy because I know I did a good job"