Tuesday marked the start of the Los Angeles Dodgers facing a National League West opponent in 16 of their next 18 games, and it began with a 6-3 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks.
On a night that saw the Dodgers squander several opportunities with runners on base, Julio Urias righted the ship with improved tempo. He bounced back from a string of inconsistent outings to hold the Diamondbacks to just one run.
Through six starts this season, he entered with a 10.50 ERA in the first inning and allowed opponents to .357/.438/.679. Urias retired the side in order in the opening frame for the first time.
He stranded a leadoff single in the second inning and was hurt by a Carson Kelly drive in the third that continued to carry for a game-tying solo home run.
The Dodgers responded in the bottom half of the inning with doubles from AJ Pollock and Chris Taylor. For Taylor it was his second RBI of the night as he previously walked with the bases loaded in the first inning.
The Dodgers wound up leaving the basses loaded after scoring the one run, and stranded two runners in both the third and fourth innings. Kiké Hernandez, who grounded into an inning-ending double play in the third, had a productive out in the fifth by lifting a sacrifice fly to the wall in center field with the bases loaded.
Edwin Rios’ sac fly extended the Dodgers’ lead to 4-1 before Diamondbacks starter Alex Young could get through the inning. In the sixth, Taylor’s line drive to right field fooled Kole Calhoun and carried over his head for a two-run double.
Urias retired the final 11 batters faced to get through six innings, finishing with five strikeouts. He was backed by a scoreless frame each from Jake McGee and Alex Wood.
Scott Alexander surrendered a two-run homer with two outs in the ninth and followed that by issuing it walk. That led to Kenley Jansen being called on for the save.
New member in Dodgers bullpen
Wood was activated off the 10-day injured list Tuesday and now is filling a role out of the bullpen. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Tony Gonsolin has taken the final spot in the rotation that already included Clayton Kershaw, Walker Buehler, Urias and Dustin May.
Have you subscribed to our YouTube channel? It’s the best way to watch player interviews, exclusive coverage from events, participate in our shows, and more!
