Urías is simply nails in return as LA sweeps

LOS ANGELES — With two months left within the common season, Julio Urías nonetheless has time to show he might be the ace the Dodgers anticipated him to be this yr.

Thursday night time was a superb begin, as Urías hurled 5 scoreless innings within the Dodgers’ 8-2 victory to finish a sweep of the A’s at Dodger Stadium.

“There’s been a lot of inconsistency throughout the year, but I feel like I’m myself on the mound, feel like I’m stronger on the mound,” Urías stated via workforce interpreter Juan Dorado. “… I feel really good about where I’m at right now.”

Coming off a July of blended outcomes and within the midst of an total up-and-down season, Urías entered his outing on eight days’ relaxation, his most up-to-date begin being on July 25. Hindered by a left index finger damage that impacted his potential to throw, Urías was working underneath limitations, with supervisor Dave Roberts saying pregame he didn’t see the left-hander going north of 5 innings.

That’s precisely what Urías gave the Dodgers, needing simply 68 pitches to get via Oakland’s lineup twice. He scattered three hits and a stroll, together with his greatest jam coming early on, as a lot of his struggles have this yr.

With one out within the first, Urías allowed a single to Zack Gelof and walked Ramon Laureano. That prompted shortstop Miguel Rojas to drag Urías apart for a phrase — after which Urías was capable of escape by inducing a double-play grounder to 3rd.

“It wasn’t too much of a conversation — I just wanted to give him a breather or an opportunity to tell me what was going through his mind,” stated Rojas. “And he just told me that he was going to keep fighting. And I just told him, ‘We’re behind you. Let them hit it.’ And that’s what he did.”

Overall, Urías’ velocity was down throughout the board. His four-seamer averaged 91.6 mph — 1.2 mph beneath his season common. But Roberts noticed him getting stronger because the night time wore on, together with his quickest pitch of the night time — a 94.4 mph heater — coming within the fifth. Three of Urías’ 5 strikeouts got here in that inning, when he ended his night time on a powerful notice by putting out the aspect.

“It might have been a little bit of a layoff, but I still thought the characteristics of the fastball were good, the location was good after that first inning,” stated Roberts. “Slider [was] good and even getting that changeup, really good feel for that late.”

Of course, Urías may have larger challenges forward than the A’s, who’ve the worst report in MLB. And he has had loads of good begins all year long; the difficulty has been remaining in a rhythm for any prolonged stretch of time. But for a Dodgers workforce clinging to a 2 1/2-game NL West lead over the second-place Giants, a dependable anchor within the rotation for the stretch run could possibly be a difference-maker — making this nearly as good a time as any for Urías to place all of it collectively.

“This is who he is,” stated Roberts. “And so if we can build on this … we’re in a good spot.”

Following Urías on Thursday was rookie Emmet Sheehan, making his first reduction look after seven begins to open his Major League profession. Sheehan dealt with the ultimate 4 innings, permitting a solo house run to Gelof within the sixth and one to Tyler Soderstrom within the eighth. He struck out three and issued one stroll.

For a workforce that’s had hassle having sufficient wholesome beginning arms obtainable this yr, the 23-year-old Sheehan has carried out a strong job filling that position up to now. But with Lance Lynn and Ryan Yarbrough now within the fold, the probably activation of Clayton Kershaw subsequent week and a possible return from Tommy John surgical procedure for Walker Buehler come September, the Dodgers out of the blue discover themselves with an abundance of choices.

For now, the bullpen is sensible as a touchdown spot for Sheehan, with the Dodgers intending to maintain him constructed up ought to they discover themselves needing size.

“I thought he was throwing the baseball with conviction tonight,” stated Roberts. “And there’s no easing your way into the game. And so to be able to check that box in the big leagues, I thought it was good for him, good for me to see it.”