LOS ANGELES — During the 2020 World Series run, the Dodgers requested Julio Urías to play a hybrid position. They used him as a starter when wanted, whereas additionally utilizing him as a reliever, which put him in place to report the ultimate out and safe a championship.
Two seasons in the past, the Dodgers requested Urías to be a full-time starter. He responded by being the one pitcher within the Majors to win 20 video games. A 12 months in the past, Urías, requested to play a extra outstanding position, got here via as soon as once more, main the National League with a 2.16 ERA.
Coming into the 2023 season, the Dodgers have been asking Urías to be the ace of their pitching employees. That duty was probably the most logical development for the Mexican left-hander. Through 9 begins, Urías is actually holding his personal, together with his newest work coming within the type of seven sturdy innings within the Dodgers’ 4-2 win over the Padres on Saturday at Dodger Stadium.
“I thought he was really good,” stated Dodgers supervisor Dave Roberts. “Plays that didn’t get made, he picked us up. Went deep in the ballgame. Just what we needed.”
Urías’ outing didn’t get off to the best begin, as he gave up a screaming line-drive homer to Juan Soto to assist the Padres get an early 1-0 lead within the first. In the second, Urías hung a changeup in opposition to Ha-Seong Kim, which the Padres’ shortstop despatched to the left-field pavilion.
If there’s been a weak spot in Urías’ sport this season, it’s that he’s permitting the opposing groups to leap out to early leads. Of the 17 runs Urías has given up, 9 have come within the first and three within the second.
“First inning, I’ve had some issues and I know it,” Urías stated in Spanish. “Today was only one run and I tried to limit the damage there. That’s what I’ve been working on, and then I just talk to the pitching coaches to see what the plan is for the next couple of innings.”
Whatever that plan is, it has undoubtedly been working for Urías, who improved to 5-3 this season. After these two early solo homers, Urías allowed only one hit over the ultimate 5 innings of his outing, a two-out infield single to Soto within the sixth.
In that very same body, the Dodgers’ infield protection continued to battle as a Max Muncy error momentarily opened the door for the Padres. But with runners on the corners and only one out, Xander Bogaerts hit a weak grounder that seemed to be headed previous the mound. However, Urías snagged it, circled shortly and fired an ideal strike to second base to begin an inning-ending 1-4-3 double play.
“I don’t even know how I made that play,” Urías laughed. “But it worked.”
Something else that has been working through the present 12-2 stretch is the truth that the Dodgers have gotten contributions from totally different gamers within the lineup. Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman performed the roles of heroes on Friday. On Saturday, it was J.D. Martinez who delivered the massive hit, a three-run homer within the first inning to present the Dodgers a lead they wouldn’t relinquish.
“In the beginning, I felt like I was pressing a little bit, trying to do too much,” Martinez stated. “But we got a good enough team, I don’t have to do anything, really. Just do what I know how to do, and if it’s me that night, it’s me. If it’s the other eight hitters, it’s the other eight hitters. Our lineup is pretty potent.”
After a 13-13 begin to the season, the Dodgers have proven simply how gifted this group may be. With Saturday’s win, Los Angeles has now received 4 in a row in opposition to the Padres and has opened up a six-game lead within the NL West over San Diego.
How the Dodgers end the season is what’s going to finally matter. But with Urías wanting like an ace once more and the lineup discovering its footing, the Dodgers have appeared rather more like themselves currently.
“It’s good that we’re playing good baseball, winning baseball,” Roberts stated. “I’d argue now, more importantly, is we’ve got to just continue to play good baseball. … We have a chance to really go for the jugular tomorrow, and that’s our intent.”
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