Julio Urías has been on a different trajectory compared to winning 20 games last season, but still has pitched well in most of his outings and in particular during June.
On Saturday, the left-hander helped the Los Angeles Dodgers get back in the win column by holding the Cleveland Guardians to just one run over six innings. Cleveland jumped ahead in the first inning by benefitting from back-to-back walks that were followed by a Max Muncy error.
Urías stranded two runners in the opening frame by getting his third strikeout of the inning. Urías shouted into his glove while walking off the mound and appeared visibly frustrated upon arriving at the dugout.
“You walk a guy, bad things can happen,” Urías said through an interpreter after the game. “Mainly the frustration is the base on balls gives them an extra opportunity. You want to limit those and correct those moving forward.”
Urías went on to retire 13 of 14 batters faced before allowing a leadoff double to Amed Rosario, who was stranded in the sixth inning. That wound up being one of two hits the Guardians collected against the 25-year-old.
“The main thing is we won. That’s always the main thing, to win. I’m very happy with that,” Urías said. “After that frustrating first inning I got settled in and did everything I needed to do after that.”
He’s allowed two earned runs or fewer in 10 of 13 starts this season, including all three outings in the month of June.
“I feel really good with the last couple outings,” Urías said. “Obviously there’s a couple things I still want to fix, because I’m a perfectionist in that manner. But there’s things that I’ve done in the last three starts that I feel really confident and really good about.
“It’s kind of pushing forward and getting ready for what’s next.”
Trea Turner: Julio Urías an ‘ace’ for Dodgers
After re-signing Clayton Kershaw, the Dodgers went into the 2022 regular season with a formidable starting rotation. At worst, Urías figured to slot in third.
Although he’s only 4-6 this year — largely due to run support — Trea Turner views the southpaw in high regard.
“I think wins or losses are tough as a starting pitcher. For me, seeing a lot of decisions is a good thing,” Turner said. “Yeah, six losses is a lot, but that means he went deep into those games and pitched innings for us. That’s what he does.
“He keeps taking the ball every five days and he’s been really good. Hopefully we get more wins for him. Just the competitor he is, is big for us. He’s definitely an ace.”
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