Julio Urías had a much-needed bounce-back performance, and the Los Angeles Dodgers ultimately managed to do just enough late to defeat the Pittsburgh Pirates, 5-2, and win the four-game series.
Heading into the finale at Dodger Stadium, manager Dave Roberts said the best-case scenario from Urías in his second start off the 15-day injured list would be six innings and 90 pitches. The southpaw wound up getting through the sixth on an efficient 88 pitches.
Urías did squander an early lead, as the Pirates strung together three consecutive hits to tie the game in the second inning. One of those was a Jack Suwinski double that David Peralta misplayed to result in a pair of runners being left in scoring position.
Nick Gonzales’ two-run double pulled the Pirates even. Urías followed that brief flurry from the Pirates by retiring the next 11 batters faced before issuing a leadoff walk in the sixth inning.
Nothing came of that, however, and Urías was aided by Freeman making a sliding catch in foul territory for the third out. The outing was the longest by a Dodgers starting pitcher since Clayton Kershaw also pitched six innings against the Colorado Rockies on June 27.
Of course, that was followed by Kershaw going on the 15-day IL due to left shoulder soreness.
Fresh off the slick defensive play, Freeman led off the bottom of the sixth with a hustle double down the left-field line. That was followed by Max Muncy providing the Dodgers with a decided by going to left-center field for a two-run home run that was his 20th long ball.
Muncy joined Mookie Betts (23) and J.D. Martinez (20) as Dodgers to hit 20 home runs before the All-Star break this season. It also was the second instance of the Dodgers relying on a double-home run combo to score. Betts and Freeman combined to do so in the first inning.
Freeman provided insurance in the seventh inning with an RBI single for his third hit of the game.
Dodgers bullpen performs
Nick Robertson, who was recalled Thursday as the corresponding move to Daniel Hudson going on the 15-day injured list because of a sprained MCL in his right knee, struck out the side in the seventh inning.
Brusdar Graterol avoided going on the IL after being unavailable the past two games with right shoulder soreness, and he faced the minimum in the eighth.
Alex Vesia, recalled as the corresponding move to Yency Almonte going on the paternity list, converted the save opportunity.
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