Julio Urias outdueled Marco Gonzales to help the Los Angeles Dodgers bounce back from consecutive losses with a 1-0 win against the Seattle Mariners, which prevented them from being swept in the two-game Interleague set.
Only the Dodgers and Kansas City Royals are yet to lose a series thus far. Heading into the game, manager Dave Roberts put the onus on Urias to help get the Dodgers back on track. “I think the first thing is Julio go out there and attack the strike zone, get us off to a good start,” he said.
“I think Marco Gonzales was their Opening Day starter, a really good pitcher, pitches off his changeup, good command, doesn’t give in to hitters. … We’ve got our guys rested in the ‘pen, so that should line up well. But it all starts with Julio today.”
Urias certainly answered the bell as he held the Mariners to just one hit over seven scoreless innings and set a new career high with 11 strikeouts in the process.
Urias excelled in getting his first pitch over for a strike and an effective slurve that developed as a key weapon last season. As the Mariners began to look for that pitch, Urias adjusted by getting over his fastball during the middle innings. Urias punctuated the outing by retiring the final 13 batters faced.
Gonzales largely matched his effort and had an early perfect game in the workings until AJ Pollock’s leadoff double in the third inning. Then with one out and runners at the corners, Dylan Moore made a second spectacular diving catch in as many games, this time at second base and robbing Chris Taylor of an RBI.
However, it only delayed matters as Corey Seager jumped on the first pitch for an RBI single that wound up winning the game for the Dodgers. Gonzales allowed just the one run on two hits and had six strikeouts in seven innings.
L.A. didn’t have their next baserunner until Edwin Rios worked a one-out walk in the eighth. Victor Gonzalez and Kenley Jansen followed Urias with one scoreless inning each to wrap up the win.
Dodgers relieved with Betts
After being hit by a pitch on the inside of his right forearm, Mookie Betts was sent for X-rays, which came back negative. He was potentially available for a pinch-run scenario but did not appear in Tuesday’s win.
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