LOS ANGELES – On the same night that the Los Angeles Dodgers paid tribute to a legendary Mexican-born pitcher, another contender took it upon himself to add his name to history.
Julio Urías achieved his 18th victory of the season, the best record in the majors; Gavin Lux drove in a decisive run in the fourth with a single and the Dodgers defeated the Arizona Diamondbacks 5-3 on Wednesday to complete a 6-0 series at home.
“Since I was warming up here in the tunnel I listened to the mariachi, it was really something that was very nice,” Urías said after the game.
The Dodgers had 14 hits in their sixth straight win and ninth straight at home, where they are 52-23, the best record in the majors.
Lux went 4-2 and drove in two. Max Muncy went 2-for-5, drove in one run and scored another.
Urías became the fourth Mexican-born pitcher to record 18 or more wins in a major league season. Legendary Dodgers player Fernando Valenzuela – who was honored before the game – and Esteban Loaiza did so twice each, and Teddy Higuera once.
Urías (18-3) allowed two runs and three hits in five innings, struck out five and walked two. Thus the Dodgers improved to 23-6 in his 29 starts. The left-hander retired nine of his first 10 batters and did not allow a hit until Christian Walker’s single in the fourth.
“The fourth inning I feel like (…) it was the inning that I struggled a little bit, but I felt good,” Urías said. “My teammates in the bullpen did a tremendous job and we came out with the victory. Hopefully we continue with this good streak and we position ourselves in the first place,” he said.
Kenley Jansen retired all opposing batters in order in the ninth, to sign his 33rd save, the 12th in a row.
For the Diamondbacks, the Venezuelan David Peralta 1-0. The Dominican Ketel Marte 2-0 with a run scored. Puerto Rican Miquel Ramos 4-1 with two runs scored.
For the Dodgers, the Mexican Julio Urías 1-0. The Dominican Albert Pujols 1-0.
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