NL DIVISION SERIES: CUBS VS BREWERS

October 9, 2025

Matthew Boyd

Ian Happ

Kyle Tucker

Wrigley Field

Chicago Cubs

Postgame 4 Press Conference

Cubs 6, Brewers 0

Q. Matt, just to start, how would you describe not only just the environment tonight, the atmosphere, but just your ability to bounce back from Game 1 and what you were able to do?

MATTHEW BOYD: Yeah, the atmosphere was amazing tonight. We got the best fans in baseball, and it was electric. We've been feeding off them since April, but tonight was another level, and that was super special.

Man, Carson was great behind the plate today. He called a great game. He was a step ahead of them. I can't give him enough props. He was dialed in and made the necessary adjustments, and we just executed the game plan, and it worked out.

Q. Ian, Craig said he was happy for you that you had your playoff moment with the three-run homer. Given your struggles this postseason, how did it feel to have that moment first inning?

IAN HAPP: Yeah, it felt great. The guys have been carrying me all postseason so to contribute in that moment and give us the lead was awesome for me. It was a really cool moment at Wrigley?

Q. You're the longest tenured guy here. What does it mean to have this moment for you in front of this atmosphere on top of that?

IAN HAPP: Yeah, I mean, I think just contribute and give Boyder a lead there. But yeah, to do it in this atmosphere, in this stadium, in front of these fans, like Matt said, they've been here every day. It doesn't matter if it's Tuesday in the middle of June, they're here. There's 40,000 people here. To give them that experience and to hear that roar was really special.

Q. Ian, with your history against Freddy Peralta, going into that at-bat are you thinking about those previous match-ups to get yourself prepared? Is it more recent history or a mixture?

IAN HAPP: Yeah, a mixture of both. I've had a ton of at-bats against him. He's had my number quite a bit. But I got him in Milwaukee on a fast ball so I knew he was going to go changeup, changeup to start the at-bat and it was probably going to be a lot more soft stuff. I was able to get a fast ball in that at-bat to hit.

Q. Matt, we know you've been phenomenal at Wrigley this year, but what part of the atmosphere, what part of all that today did you feed off the most?

MATTHEW BOYD: I mean, just right from the jump, you're going out there to jog to warm up, jogging out to warm up and the bleachers are just going crazy for you. To look up and the moon is already up, it's dark out there, and the fans have your back 40 minutes to game time, there's nothing like that. It's really special. They create such an environment here.

It makes it a great place to play when you're a Cubby and it's a hard place to play when you're not, and it's special.

Q. Kyle, this team has obviously been very good in the first inning in scoring runs. How important did you feel what you guys were able to do in later innings to give a little bit more breathing room and maybe make Milwaukee feel like they weren't in it?

KYLE TUCKER: Yeah, it was nice. Every run in the playoffs is huge. No matter how you get them, it's big time. Keeping it moving down the line. We just tried to put up good at-bats from the beginning, first pitch, to the end of the game and just keep it rolling down the line and just pass it on to the next guy and just put as much pressure on the other team as possible to get out of a jam, and we tried to do our best to not let that happen.

It's nice to contribute and just have competitive at-bats, whether it's a walk, single, moving a guy over, whatever it is, just try and score some runs.

Q. For Ian and Kyle, you guys have been in a lot of big games in the postseason. You have a day off now. How does the pressure work? How do the emotions work? How do you deal with those where you've evened the series now, there's one game left, how do you deal with the emotions and that pressure?

IAN HAPP: I think the experience that we have in the room, guys that have done it. Tuck, JT, Dansby, guys that have been there, you lean on those guys and their experiences.

I think the playing already three elimination games, I think it gives you a little bit of peace and gives the guys in the room -- we've had our backs against the wall. You take that day to rest and get back after it.

KYLE TUCKER: I think you keep the same mindset and keep grinding. Just got to win every single game and try to win every single at-bat and every pitch. We are just going to try and keep doing our thing. I know it's an off-day tomorrow, but you should keep the same attitude and mindset going into the next day and just try and take it from there.

Q. Tuck, your first homer since before you went on the IL in September. Do you feel like the swing is starting to get back to where you want it going into Game 5?

KYLE TUCKER: I feel good. I'm swinging at pitches I want to swing at and laying off some of the other ones. It's not always going to go your way, but as long as you can go up there and have a chance and put yourself in good spots, you're at least giving yourself a shot.

I'm just trying to put up some competitive at-bats, whether it's a walk or single or just trying to move a guy over. Obviously take some barrels and get on base and score some runs, so I'm just trying to do my best with all that.

Q. Matt, when Palencia comes in, obviously he brings some energy with him, throwing 100 miles per hour. How impressive, how important is it to have that energy after you come out to keep that going?

MATTHEW BOYD: Yeah, it's huge. I mean, Danny brings energy every time he takes the mound. He's a spark plug for us. That was a huge pitch to come in there and make that pitch against Chourio who's been hitting the ball really well.

No moment is too big for him. He knows what he expects of himself when the ball is in his hand regardless of what's going on, and can't speak highly enough about him. What he's done this year has just been so impressive.