DENVER — Julio Urías got off to a strong start after a fine finish in last year’s World Series, pitching into the eighth inning as the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the Colorado Rockies 4-2 Sunday.
The champion Dodgers won the last three in a strange four-game series at Coors Field that featured a home run turned into a single on opening day, a cat running into the outfield, an inside-the-park homer and spraying fountains that distracted hitters.
Urías (1-0) gave up one run and three hits in the longest start of his career. The 24-year-old left-hander struck out six and walked one in his season debut. He needed just 77 pitches to get through seven innings and exited after Ryan McMahon singled to lead off the eighth.
Urías had a brilliant postseason last year as the Dodgers won their first title since 1988. He was 4-0 while allowing just three earned runs and striking out 29 in 23 innings, and he capped off the Game 6 clincher against Tampa Bay in the World Series with 2 1/3 hitless innings for a save.
Austin Gomber (0-1) walked seven and struggled in his debut with the Rockies. He issued four walks and had a throwing error in the first inning when Los Angeles scored three runs without a hit.
Will Smith homered leading off the Dodgers eighth. Garrett Hampson had a two-run double in the bottom of the inning to account for Colorado’s scoring.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Dodgers: OF Cody Bellinger and SS Corey Seager were given the day off. Manager Dave Roberts is mixing in days off with the Los Angeles playing every day for the first 12 days of the season.
Rockies: RHP Jon Gray is expected to make his next scheduled start, manager Bud Black said. He left Saturday night’s game in the sixth inning with full-body cramps. … INF Josh Fuentes was a late scratch from the lineup with a sore wrist.
GONSOLIN ON IL
RHP Tony Gonsolin was put on the 10-day injured list Sunday with right shoulder inflammation, a move retroactive to Thursday. The Dodgers recalled righty Dennis Santana from the alternate training site at Glendale, Arizona, to fill the roster spot.
Gonsolin, 26, made the opening-day roster for the first time but has not pitched this season.
“That shoulder inflammation, it’s something that’s been kind of lingering for the last few days,” Roberts said. “He went out there and played catch today, didn’t feel great so I think it’s more being cautious with Tony being a big part of our club.”
UP NEXT
Dodgers: RHP Dustin May makes his season debut at Oakland on Monday. May went 3-0 with a 2.37 ERA in five Cactus League games, four starts.
Rockies: RHP German Marquez gets his second start when Colorado opens a series against Arizona on Tuesday. Marquez allowed one run in four innings against Los Angeles on Thursday.
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