Royals rating 5 in first inning off Dodgers’ Julio Urias earlier than holding on for 6-4 win

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Royals rudely welcomed Dodgers pitcher Julio Urías again from the injured listing on Saturday night time.

The AL Central bottom-dwellers had 4 hits off final 12 months’s National League ERA chief within the first inning, and just one was a hard-hit ball. The Royals labored a 12-pitch stroll, obtained a base when Matt Duffy was hit within the foot by a pitch, and managed a pair of sacrifice flies to get 5 runs throughout earlier than Los Angeles even obtained to bat.

The Royals held on from there for a rain-delayed 6-4 victory, simply their second of their final 10 video games towards the Dodgers.

“I was thinking, ‘I hope that doesn’t happen to me,’” Royals starter Daniel Lynch stated of the parade of weakly hit singles that staked Kansas City to a 5-0 lead. “They’re bloopers but they’re still good at-bats. Hits are hits.”

Lynch (2-3) almost gave all his help again when he allowed three runs within the second. But the left-hander settled down, finally throwing 108 pitches to get by way of 5 innings. He allowed 5 hits and three walks with 4 strikeouts.

The Dodgers left the bases loaded within the eighth when Yonny Hernandez struck out and Freddie Freeman grounded out, and Scott Barlow obtained the ultimate 4 outs for his tenth save whereas capping 4 innings of one-run ball by the Kansas City bullpen.

PHOTOS: Royals rating 5 in first inning off Dodgers’ Julio Urías earlier than holding on for 6-4 win

“The biggest thing was just staying relaxed,” Barlow stated. “Do as much as you can to make quality pitches.”

Drew Waters and Salvador Perez drove in runs, and Edward Oliveras and Samad Taylor had sacrifice flies, as Urías (5-5) scuffled by way of his first sport since hurting his hamstring on May 18. He lasted three innings and allowed six hits and two walks.

Urías struggled with each command and misfortune after a virtually 90 minute rain delay to start out the sport.

Maikel Garcia began the difficulty for final 12 months’s NL ERA chief with a double and Bobby Witt Jr. and Salvador Perez added bloopers to offer Kansas City the lead. Nick Pratto adopted by working a 12-pitch stroll, and Oliveras hit a sacrifice fly that was caught by a backpedaling second baseman who couldn’t get sufficient on the throw house.

The massive inning continued when Duffy was hit by a pitch and Taylor added his sacrifice fly. That scored the slow-footed Perez, who contorted his physique round catcher Will Smith’s tag, and the Dodgers had been so shocked by his slide that they allowed the remaining runners to advance. Waters adopted with one other blooper to make it 5-0.

“It was a frustrating inning. I think initially, Julio came out good but got victimized by a lot of soft contact,” Dodgers supervisor Dave Roberts stated. “Give him a lot of credit. He got up to 66 pitches and threw up a couple of zeros.”

The Dodgers equally manufactured three runs off Lynch within the second however left a runner on base, then left runners on the corners within the third and one other on base within the fifth as their comeback started to fizzle.

Their final probability got here within the eighth, when pinch hitter Max Muncy obtained a single to first previous Pratto, who later froze in indecision on James Outman’s grounder and allowed a run to attain. Royals reliever Taylor Clarke got here again to retire Hernandez, and Barlow walked Mookie Betts to load the bases earlier than getting Freeman to floor out and finish the inning.

“Scotty is one of our best relievers,” Royals supervisor Matt Quatraro stated. “That’s why I brought him in there.”

KERSHAW’S SHOULDER

Three-time Cy Young winner Clayton Kershaw walked off the sector drenched in sweat after taking part in catch three hours earlier than first pitch, and Roberts later stated his session was “just OK.” Kershaw felt tenderness in his shoulder after a powerful begin Tuesday. He was given a shot to alleviate irritation Wednesday and is scheduled to face Pittsburgh on Monday.

TRANSACTIONS

Dodgers: LHP Justin Bruihl was optioned to Triple-A Oklahoma City to create space for Urías on the roster.

Royals: RHP Collin Snider was recalled from Triple-A Omaha and Brooks Kriske was optioned to the identical membership. The Royals wanted some depth out of the bullpen and Quatraro stated that Snider is able to going a number of innings.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Dodgers: IF/OF Chris Taylor (proper knee) won’t return earlier than the All-Star break, Roberts stated. Taylor left a sport towards the Giants on June 16 with soreness earlier than a pair of pinch-hitting appearances, the final of them approaching June 21.

Royals: RHP Jordan Lyles (sickness) returned to the ballpark Saturday and the membership is ready to see how he feels earlier than deciding whether or not he makes his subsequent begin. Lyles is scheduled to face the Twins on Wednesday.

UP NEXT