SAN FRANCISCO – Julio Urias won his eighth consecutive decision and Miguel Vargas drove in two runs in his major league debut as the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the San Francisco Giants 3-0 on Wednesday night.
Urias (11-6) threw six scoreless innings, struck out six and didn’t issue a walk. The Dodgers -- who wore patches on their gray jerseys to honor Hall of Fame announcer Vin Scully, who died Tuesday -- won their fourth in a row and for the seventh time in eight games.
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Urias is 8-0 with a 2.28 ERA over his past nine starts, and he lowered his overall ERA to 2.57, fourth in the National League.
San Francisco threatened in the ninth, loading the bases with one out against Craig Kimbrel. But Kimbrel got Mike Yastrzemski to pop out and struck out Austin Slater looking to notch his 19th save.
The Giants dropped their seventh in a row to the Dodgers, their longest losing streak against Los Angeles in a season since also losing seven straight in 1980.
Before the game, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts talked about the confidence and swagger he’s already seen in Vargas, ranked the No. 28 prospect in the game by Baseball America.
“He’s a heck of a ballplayer,” Roberts said. “In the middle of the season, to have that youthful enthusiasm, it kind of injects that joy in all of us.”
Vargas served as designated hitter and made his presence felt in his first career plate appearance.
He lined an opposite-field, ground-rule double off Alex Cobb (3-6) in the second that scored Trayce Thompson and broke a scoreless tie. Vargas, who defected from Cuba with his father, Lazaro, in 2015 and signed with the Dodgers two years later, spotted his family in the stands after his double, then stole third base on the very next pitch.
“I just felt incredible, and I didn’t feel like anyone could stop me,” Vargas said through an interpreter.
In the fourth, he drove in the Dodgers’ second run with an infield single to third base, a play originally ruled a fielder’s choice when Max Muncy narrowly scored ahead of J.D. Davis’ throw home.
A sacrifice fly from Mookie Betts in the seventh made it 3-0.
Cobb gave up three runs and four hits over 6 1/3 innings. The right-hander hasn’t won since May 17 at Colorado.
The Giants threatened in the seventh when they loaded the bases with no outs, trailing 3-0. But Dixon Machado struck out and Luis Gonzalez made a crucial baserunning mistake, getting doubled off second on Yastrzemski’s shallow flyout to center.
“It’s something that can’t happen,” Giants manager Gabe Kapler said. “I know Luis is going to tell you the same.”
SCULLY REMEMBERED
Both teams lined up along the baselines before first pitch to honor Scully, as the Giants played a video tribute to the legendary Dodgers announcer on their JumboTron. Scully called the last game of his 67-year career with the Dodgers at Oracle Park in 2016.
ROSTER MOVES
Dodgers: 3B Justin Turner (abdominal strain) was placed on the 10-day injured list and OF Joey Gallo, acquired Tuesday from the New York Yankees, joined the 26-man roster. Gallo was not in Wednesday’s lineup, but Roberts said he anticipates playing him in left field against right-handers.
Giants: INF J.D. Davis, acquired from the New York Mets on Tuesday, started at third base and went 1 for 4. OF Bryce Johnson was selected from Triple-A Sacramento and started in center field. To make room, LHP Sam Long and INF Jason Vosler were optioned to Sacramento. Johnson, 26, went 0 for 2 in his major league debut, and Kapler said he anticipated Johnson helping to shore up an outfield defense that has given the Giants problems.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Dodgers: INF/OF Chris Taylor (left foot fracture) homered twice and drove in three runs while seeing time at second base and third base in a rehab game for Triple-A Oklahoma City. RHP Dustin May (Tommy John surgery) started the same game, going four innings and allowing one run on two hits. … RHP Brusdar Graterol (right shoulder inflammation) hit 100 mph in his bullpen session Wednesday and Roberts said he was “very close” to coming off the injured list. … RHP Blake Treinen (right shoulder discomfort) pitched in a simulated game and he could begin a rehab assignment next.
Giants: SS Brandon Crawford (left knee inflammation) played in rehab games Tuesday and Wednesday for Sacramento, and Kapler mentioned Saturday as a potential day for Crawford to be activated.
UP NEXT
Dodgers LHP Clayton Kershaw (7-3, 2.66 ERA) takes the hill in Thursday’s series finale. He’s 0-1 in two starts against San Francisco this season and hasn’t made it through five innings in either one. Giants RHP Jakob Junis (4-2, 2.78) will make his fourth appearance (third start) since returning from a left hamstring strain.
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