The Los Angeles Dodgers were outhit by the San Diego Padres but started their homestand with a 3-0 win that snapped a two-game losing streak and helped them keep pace with the San Francisco Giants in the National League West race.
Julio Urias turned in seven shutout innings, working through traffic for much of the night to earn his MLB-best 17th win of the season.
He battled some early command issues and frustration that stemmed from believing home-plate umpire Pat Hoberg had too tight of a strike zone. Urias said after the win he checked video of the calls and realized they were correctly ruled balls.
The Padres put two on in the first inning, and had another reach scoring position when Wil Myers doubled with one out in the sixth.
Urias not allowing a run was due in part to Chris Taylor making a pair of impressive catches. The first was a snow cone variety in the gap after miscommunication with Gavin Lux, who started in left field.
Taylor later made a leaping catch in center field to rob Manny Machado of an RBI hit and potential home run.
All of Dodger Stadium knew that was gone off the bat. ☄️ pic.twitter.com/1kF6vJKeQA
— SportsNet LA (@SportsNetLA) September 11, 2021
Chris Taylor: centerfielder. pic.twitter.com/3JLE2kiAXb
— SportsNet LA (@SportsNetLA) September 11, 2021
Seven shutout innings? Julio shut 'em down. pic.twitter.com/CRljvoKsBf
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) September 11, 2021
“When he hit it, I thought it was going to go over the fence,” Urias said. “Luckily he didn’t, and it was a great play by Chris.”
The Dodgers didn’t collect their first hit until Mookie Betts’ one-out single in the third inning, which was followed by Max Muncy crushing a two-run home run. Muncy’s swing appeared to be a release of some frustration, both from recent weeks and Fernando Tatis Jr. making a leaping catch in the first inning.
Dodgers bullpen steps up
Blake Treinen worked around a pair of back-to-back singles with two outs in the eighth inning, and Kenley Jansen stranded a runner in the ninth to covert his 31st save of the season.
Adam Frazier singled two outs, and after moving into scoring position on defensive indifference, Jansen intentionally balked him over prior to closing out the win.
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