Julio Urias pitched five innings of three-hit ball while not allowing a run, Freddie Freeman homered to right in the eighth and Amed Rosario and Miguel Rojas added two RBI apiece as the Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the Oakland Athletics 8-2 on Thursday evening at Dodgers stadium.
“This series we had to take care of business and we were able to do that,” said Freeman.
Los Angeles completed the three-game sweep over Oakland and improved to 62-45, staying atop of the NL West. The Athletics dropped to 30-80 on the season and have now lost four straight games and seven of their last nine.
Freeman recorded his 40th double of the season and added his 10th multi-hit game in his last 15 games.
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“He has a calmness and peace. He’s playing MVP-caliber baseball,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “Whether it is hitting a double the other way vs. a lefty, a home run to the pull side, making a great play defensively. I can’t praise him enough.”
Athletics starting pitcher JP Sears (2-8) finished with the loss after allowing two runs in five innings. Lucas Erceg and Zach Neal allowed six runs on eight hits as Oakland was unable to slow down Los Angeles.
Urías (8-6) impressed on the mound for the Dodgers by tallying five scoreless innings and allowed only three hits. Emmet Sheehan pitched the final four innings for his first major-league save after surrendering two runs.
“To see him come out there and throw the baseball like he did, really encouraging… I thought that fifth inning was his best inning of the night,” said Roberts on Urias.
Rojas found success early with two runs on doubles to left field in the second and third innings for the Dodgers. Will Smith had an RBI single to center field in the third and Los Angeles closed the inning with four total runs to take a 6-1 lead. Rosario had a two-run double to left field and David Peralta added an RBI single to right field.
Oakland’s rookies Zack Gelof and Tyler Soderstrom homered in the sixth and eighth.
The Dodgers quickly responded in the eighth as Freeman blasted a solo homer and Chris Taylor tacked on an RBI single while earning an 8-2 win.
“I’m just trying to be a good hitter,” said Freeman, who hit his 22nd homer of the season. “It’s one of those times where you’re not fouling off pitches you are supposed to hit. They go forward and find grass.”
The Dodgers next take on San Diego for a four-game series with the Padres beginning on Friday at 6:40 p.m.
