Urías flips the script to avenge previous outing

PHILADELPHIA -- What a difference a week makes.

Julio Urías didn't have to wait long to avenge the worst start of his big league career. Six days after being tagged for career highs in both runs (eight) and homers (four) in a home loss to the Phillies, Urías held that same Philadelphia team scoreless over five innings in a 4-1 win -- Los Angeles' sixth straight victory -- on Friday at Citizens Bank Park.

• Box score

Urías retired 15 of the 17 batters he faced, allowing only two hits while striking out five and walking none. After giving up seven hard-hit balls (exit velocity of at least 95 mph) at Dodger Stadium last time out, Urías yielded just two this time around -- and one was an Odúbel Herrera fly out.

"That's just baseball," Urías said. "I made my adjustments and came out victorious this time."

Along with limiting hard contact, the other key for Urías was keeping the Phillies off balance.

In the last meeting, Urías gave up two first-pitch homers. The other two home runs came in even counts. Over his last two starts, opposing hitters were 14-for-31 (.452) with eight extra-base hits against Urías when he was either behind or even in the count.

On Friday, the Phillies did not have any hits in those situations. As for the first pitch specifically, Urías threw 11 first-pitch strikes to 17 batters, while only one was put in play -- and it went for an out.

"That was a game plan," manager Dave Roberts said. "You just never know what type of team approach teams are going to take against a guy that particular start, but I thought he made quality pitches early in the count to get ahead."

Urías navigated his five scoreless frames on 80 pitches, but Roberts opted to go to the bullpen to start the sixth. The Phillies had their No. 9 hitter due up to start the frame, but then Urías would have been facing the top of the order for the third time on Friday – and the sixth time in the last week.

Though Urías hasn’t thrown more than 82 pitches in any of his eight starts this season, Roberts said this early hook had more to do with Urías seeing those same hitters -- and, of course, those same hitters seeing him -- so many times recently.

“I thought that he could have went another inning,” Roberts said, “but knowing that he just faced this club six days ago, we handed it off to the bullpen to get the remaining outs.”

The bullpen did just that, with five relievers combining to seal the win, including Craig Kimbrel coming on to secure the final out for his eighth save of the season. The Dodgers will need to continue piecing the ends of these games together moving forward with the club expected to be without Tommy Kahnle (right elbow bone bruise) for at least a few weeks, in addition to Blake Treinen (right shoulder inflammation) being out until at least the All-Star break.

Of course, it will help any time their starter can hold the opposition scoreless before passing the torch.

“Julio is one of the best pitchers in the game, in my opinion -- especially left-handed pitchers,” said Freddie Freeman, who went 3-for-5 with a pair of RBIs and his third stolen base of the season. “In this game, you've got to have a short memory. You're going to fail a lot in this game, and you've got to be able to deal with it and move on. And he was able to do that and give us a great start today.”

Even with last week's misstep against the Phillies, Urías still has a 2.63 ERA this season -- and a 2.90 ERA over 40 starts dating to the start of last season. Friday’s start also marked his fourth straight outing without a walk, running his streak to 23 walk-free frames during that span.

“I just thought that Julio was in complete control tonight,” Roberts said.