The Los Angeles Dodgers gave Julio Urias all the run support he needed, slugging four homers in the first three innings of their 5-3 win over the Atlanta Braves at Dodger Stadium.
The left-hander was dominant early on as he retired the first 12 batters faced. He ultimately allowed just two runs on four hits and collected seven strikeouts in six innings of work.
“I felt good,” Urias said after the game. “All three pitches were working early on and I felt good all the way through. I went as hard as I could for as long as I could.”
With the solid start, Urias became the first pitcher in MLB to accumulate 15 wins this season. According to Elias Sports Bureau, he is only the sixth pitcher in Dodgers franchise history to reach that threshold before anyone else in a single season.
Urias joined Joe McGinnity (1900), Don Newcombe (1955), Don Drysdale (1962), Sandy Koufax (1963-66) and Clayton Kershaw (2017) in accomplishing the feat.
Urias throwing six innings on Monday marked his longest outing since July 21. Recording 18 outs also helped take some of the burden off a bullpen that has logged the heaviest workload since the All-Star break.
“You’re always aware coming into the game and a situation like we did,” Urias said. “You just try to go as long as you can and try to put yourself in the best position.
“Especially with the bullpen the way it’s been used the last few days. But a lot of credit to them. Even them coming in to finish off the game and doing a really good job.”
Roberts: Urias’ performance ‘exactly what Dodgers needed’
Urias’ performance not only helped the Dodgers snap the Braves’ franchise-record 13-game road winning streak, it also allowed them to pick up a full game on the San Francisco Giants, who were defeated by the Milwaukee Brewers.
“He was fantastic,” manager Dave Roberts said of Urias. “Coming off the IL, he just picked up where he left off his last start and then this start. I thought he held his stuff, made good pitches.
“They took a couple good swings on him in that sixth inning, but I thought overall he gave us exactly what we needed and he’ll be ready to go against the Giants.”
Urias’ start against the Braves came on five days’ rest, but he is expected to make his next outing on normal rest against the Giants at Oracle Park this weekend.
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