Eric Lauer addressed reporters on July 6, 2026, following the Los Angeles Dodgers' walk-off extra-inning victory over the Colorado Rockies.
Lauer said during the press conference that he was generally satisfied with his command but acknowledged some execution lapses. "I was pretty happy with how I was commanding the ball. I think there were a few pitches that I missed locations pretty bad," he said, noting that those misses allowed Colorado to put the ball in play. He added that he remained mildly frustrated with the overall quality of his outing despite keeping the team in the game: "I'm a little frustrated with how I was throwing the ball. Um, definitely some things to tighten down, but you know, kept this in it."
Lauer noted that pitching in an extra-inning game carries a particular mental weight for starters. "Anytime there's an extra-inning game as a starter, you kind of feel like you pitched yesterday," he explained, describing how much unfolds after a starter exits. He watched the late innings from the dugout, and when asked exactly where, he pointed to the spot directly in front of the interviewer — drawing laughter from those present — and stated, "I was sitting right here."
Lauer praised Dalton Rushing's competitive character, stating that Rushing "plays with a lot of moxie" and "definitely doesn't back down to anybody," calling him the kind of competitor teammates want on their side.
According to Lauer, the July 6, 2026 game marked the Dodgers' first extra-inning game of the 2026 season. He described the walk-off outcome as precisely what the sport should deliver, saying, "that's all you can ask for in a baseball game to make it exciting."