By Jon Weisman
Despite allowing the first three batters against him to reach base for a run, Julio Urías matched career highs with six innings an eight strikeouts, pitching the Dodgers to a 3-2 victory over the Cubs.
Since facing the Cubs in his second career start June 2, Urías has a 2.93 ERA with 63 strikeouts in 55 1/3 innings. He also had his third career big-league hit.
For the year, Urías has fanned 10.0 batters per nine innings — the highest single-season K/9 rate in the Majors among pitchers age 20-and-under (minimum 50 innings) since Dwight Gooden in 1984, and the highest in Dodger history.
Corey Seager hit his 23rd homer to tie the game in the bottom of the first, breaking Glenn Wright’s 86-year-old franchise record for home funs (no typo) by a shortstop.
RBI singles by Chase Utley and Justin Turner off Cubs starter Jason Hammel put the Dodgers ahead to stay in the third. Andrew Toles (2 for 3 with a double) scored the tiebreaking run.
Chicago went to its bullpen and got 5 2/3 innings of shutout relief, but could not duplicate its Friday comeback.
The Dodgers withstood Pedro Baez’s one-run slow jam in the top of the seventh to finish off the game, with Adam Liberatore, Jesse Chavez and Kenley Jansen finishing.
oldbrooklynfan
Almost like watching the same movie but this time it had a better ending.
throwdeuce
Playoff style game. Bolds well for this October, and Cubs not seeing Kershaw, Hill, or Marda, of course the Dodgers not seeing Arrieta either.
Mark Hagerstrom
Chavez filled in nicely as the set up guy.
jimhitchcock
A few weeks back, you would have asked me, I would have snorted, no way we could claw our way back in contention from eight games back
(Go ahead , take Kershaw from us, give us your best shot, DL)
And here we are, a half century or so of me following this band of misfifts, these Dodgers, and it’s as fun as ever.
I guess I shouldn’t overthink it…it is what it is :)
throwdeuce
Jim, it’s been well documented here that even when Kershaw was healthy I thought this team was inferior to others within the division let alone the league. But the resilience they have shown has made this one of the most enjoyable to watch in years.
I may not like all the moves the FO has made, but it’s clear they know what they are doing, despite what a lot think.
jimhitchcock
Feels to me that the FO is committed to playing the margins (sort of obvious), throwing together disparate parts to see what sticks. Their job has been made incredibly more difficult by all the injuries.
The really fun thing to me is that long time minor leaguers like Segedin and Toles have been thrust into the spotlight, and run with it.
Kendrick playing LF, Utley, roughly 78 in baseball years, brought back a serving as spark plug, no way you can sell me on this, it is not ’88 :)
T.A. Barnhart
the FO is dedicated to the long term. they’ll cobble things together this year knowing that next will have much more Urias, more experienced Stripling, other minor leaguers making their way forward. the Jints spent big to win this year, but it’s not paying off, and they’re getting old & breaking down. the Dodgers are being developed for winning every year, and that means build the farm system, don’t chase the bright & sparklies (Grienke), and find bargains that pay off big (Turner). i hate losing AJ Ellis, but his career was done anyway; other than that, this FO has been amazing. Segedin & Toles? really? yup.