Grieving Julio Urías pitches emotional Game 7
By Tab Bamford
MILWAUKEE – As the media ran into the visitors’ clubhouse at Miller Park in Milwaukee, manager Dave Roberts was holding off the champagne-spraying celebration after the Dodgers clinched their second consecutive trip to the World Series.
Before Roberts let the party begin Saturday night after Game 7 of the National League Championship Series, he asked the Dodgers to listen to veteran second baseman Kiké Hernández for a moment. They called Urías to the center of the room.
“We all know how hard it’s been for Julio,” Hernández said after the Dodgers beat the Brewers 5-1 to win the best-of-seven NLCS, 4-3. “It’s been a long road to be here with us. Not only did he go back-to-back (as a reliever) for the first time in his life, but I want to make a toast. His grandmother passed away last night. He came in tonight and got the biggest out of the game.”
Hernández was emotional while he lifted his Champagne bottle for a toast. Manager Dave Roberts and closer Kenley Jansen hugged Urías.
It has been a long road to the World Series for Urías, the 22-year-old lefthander who is rated the top prospect in the organization. He made his major league debut as a 19-year-old, but injuries sidetracked his ascent into the Dodgers rotation.
In June of 2017 Urías underwent season-ending anterior capsule surgery on his left shoulder. That’s a significant injury, and the sentiment around Dodger nation was that the next time we would hear from Urías was likely during the 2019 season.
Urías returned to the big league mound on Sept. 15, which was the 38th anniversary of the legendary Fernando Valenzuela’s debut with the Dodgers in 1980. Urías threw four innings over three appearances, all at least seven days apart, in September.
In the postseason, Roberts has been comfortable using the phenom in high leverage situations. Urías appeared in four games in the NLCS. He earned the victory in Game 4’s 13-inning marathon at Dodger Stadium.
Urías and Hernández were emotional when they embraced after the toast. Urías disappeared from the party that started.
He’ll be back next week when the Dodgers begin the World Series against the Red Sox on Tuesday night at Boston’s Fenway Park.
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