Fans of 24-year-old Dodgers left-hander Julio Urías – and let’s face it, who isn’t – were treated to what was, hands down, the single best start of his six-year major league career on Tuesday afternoon when he struck out a career-high 11 Seattle Mariners batters at T-Mobile Park. He was flat out dominant … or “dominante,” as they would say in his hometown of Culiacan, Mexico home.
“They’re moving different,” Dodgers catcher Austin Barnes told reporters (via Zoom) of Urías’ filthy curveball after the game. “That’s not a normal pitch to me. I haven’t seen a curveball kind of thrown like that. It’s coming out way on the side, and he’s landing it at a really high rate, and it does different things all the time. Sometimes it shoots this way, shoots down. It’s a hard pitch for them to get their sights on. It was working today.”
But wait …There’s more!
In addition to his 11 strikeouts, Urías allowed only one hit and only one walk over his brilliant seven innings pitched on Tuesday, drawing high praise from Dodgers manager Dave Roberts.
“I just can’t recall any better [start], from the first pitch to the last pitch,” Roberts said. “Efficiency, command of all three pitches, getting ahead of hitters. He had complete control of command today.”
Although Urías will forever be remembered for his remarkable three innings pitched in Game-5 of the 2020 World Series to give the Dodgers their first World Championship since 1988, eight years before the hard-throwing left-hander was even born, his ‘stuff’ on Tuesday was even better.
¡Muy bien, Julio!
¡Jugar a la Pelota! (Play Ball!).
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I hope he gets an extension! He and Buehler could lead the staff for a looong time.
I was a bit skeptical about him until yesterday. That curveball is the stuff that legends are made of. I am now good with that contract extension of which you speak.
Some hesitancy is warranted since he is still quite young. His development has been inconsistent mostly because of injuries. I’m optimistic that he’s just getting going as a starter, with no kid gloves!
The stuff is great, especially as a lefty. But it’s his demeanor that makes me think his upside could be even higher. I also think a robotic strike zone would be very beneficial to him. I tell at the TV more for bad strike/ball calls (for both sides) more than anything!
A fantastic performance by Urias