Julio Urías was expected to help stabilize the Los Angeles Dodgers starting rotation, but his return from the 15-day injured list instead added more disappointment to what’s been an underwhelming season.
Having spent six weeks on the IL because of a left hamstring strain and only making one rehab start, Urías predictably wasn’t his sharpest. He also was the victim of bad luck as the Royals benefitted from a bevy of soft contact and well-placed hits during a five-run first inning.
Those were all Urías allowed, but he pitched just three innings and was saddled with the loss.
Following the game, the 26-year-old said he’s healthy and simply needed to put forth a better performance, via Bill Plunkett of the Southern California News Group:
“I’ve just got to pitch better,” Urias said through an interpreter. “I felt good but I didn’t do my job. Gotta pitch better.”
Mixed in during the Royals’ big inning was Nick Pratto working Urías for a 12-pitch walk that loaded the bases. Will Smith believed that had more of an impact than the Royals’ string of hits:
“I think so. More so I think the hit after hit after hit did probably,” Dodgers catcher Will Smith said. “Then he has the long at-bat. I took a mound visit there, let him re-focus, catch his breath. Then another dink hit after that. That sucks. It’s part of baseball. Normally that doesn’t happen but tonight it did.”
After Pratto’s walk, Edward Olivares lifted a sacrifice fly to shallow center field that Miguel Vargas caught but could not throw out the speedy Bobby Witt Jr. on his tag. Urías then hit Danny Duffy with a pitch and allowed another sac fly, though Mookie Betts made a strong throw to the plate that was wasted because Smith’s tag attempt was off target.
Drew Waters’ blooper into center field for a two-run single with two outs capped off the scoring. Although Urías had a disastrous first inning in every aspect, he pitched through traffic after that point to give the Dodgers an opportunity to climb back into the game.
Julio Urías believed time off helped
Although the recovery process took longer than anticipated, Urías believed his time on the IL allowed him an opportunity to address some trouble with mechanics.
That wasn’t on display against the Royals, and the Dodgers will need the left-hander to be improved moving forward.
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