Julio Urías electric in first start since 2017, Joe Kelly blows another lead

Julio Urías was lights out in his first start in nearly two years, but for the second time in five games, Joe Kelly wasn’t able to hold the lead, as the Dodgers fell to the Giants on Monday night, 4-2.

The offense

After exploding for 42 runs in the first four games of the season, the Dodgers were held to only two on Monday night. To no surprise, both came courtesy of the long ball.

After picking up his first hit of the year in his previous at-bat, Chris Taylor connected on his first home run of the season, giving the Dodgers a 1-0 lead. Alex Verdugo followed him with a solo-shot of his own, going back-to-back and giving the Dodgers a two-run edge.

The Dodgers’ offense went quiet the rest of the way, only racking up two hits over the final four innings, both coming at the hands of Enrique Hernandez.

The pitching

There was a lot of good, and a lot of bad on Monday night. Let’s start off with the good. Urías got the start for LA, his first since May 20, 2017.

With the Dodgers looking to limit the 22-year-old, the initial plan was for him to start the season in the bullpen, and save his arm for later in the season. With injuries to Clayton Kershaw and Rich Hill, a spot was open in the starting rotation.

The Dodgers couldn’t have asked for a better outing from Urías. In five innings, he struck out seven and didn’t allow a run. Even better for LA, his velocity topped out at 97 mph.

Urías found himself in potential trouble a couple of times. The Giants had runners on first and second with two outs in the third. He responded by striking out Brandon Belt to escape the jam. In the fifth, San Francisco had a runner on second with only one out. Urías was up for the test, getting back-to-back strikeouts to put his total at seven, and give him five scoreless innings. This gave him 77 pitches on the night, and he was done for the game.

Joe Kelly came in to pitch the sixth. He was immediately welcomed by Belt, as he allowed a home run on the first pitch, cutting the Dodgers’ lead to only one. Kelly allowed three more hits in the seventh before exiting the game with the score tied at two. He left with two runners on, who would both come to score at the hands of Scott Alexander, giving the Giants a 4-2 lead.

It’s the second game this season Kelly has blown for LA, both resulting in losses. His ERA currently sits at 18.00.

Monday particulars

WP: Trevor Gott (1-0) 1 IP, 0 ER

LP: Joe Kelly (0-1) 1 ²⁄₃ IP, 4 ER

SV: Will Smith (2) 1 IP, 2 SO

Home runs: Alex Verdugo (1), Chris Taylor (1), Brandon Belt (1)

Up next

The Dodgers will look to even up the series tomorrow night as Hyun-Jin Ryu (1-0, 1.50 ERA) will square off against Madison Bumgarner (0-1, 2.57 ERA). First pitch is at 7:10 pm on SportsNet LA.