LOS ANGELES ― The time Julio Urías spent rehabbing a strained left hamstring was an eventful one for the Dodgers’ pitching staff.

Bobby Miller and Emmet Sheehan were thrust into the rotation from the minor leagues. Clayton Kershaw hurt his shoulder. Daniel Hudson returned from one knee injury and was potentially lost for the season with another.

Against this backdrop, Urías’ return could not come soon enough, but he was victimized by a series of bloop hits and shoddy defensive plays on Saturday in Kansas City and the Dodgers lost.

The Dodgers’ defense did not always play to Urías’ favor in a 5-2 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Thursday night. It scarcely mattered. Urías resembled the pitcher who finished in the top 10 of the National League Cy Young Award voting each of the last two seasons in front of an announced crowd of 42,036 at Dodger Stadium.

After allowing a two-run “double” to Nick Gonzales in the second inning – Dodgers left fielder David Peralta charged in, only to watch the ball sail over his head – Urías retired 11 consecutive hitters until issuing a leadoff walk to begin the sixth inning.

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts was hoping to stretch out Urías to six innings and 90 pitches; Urías met that goal with two pitches to spare. He allowed three hits, two runs, walked one batter and struck out eight – his most in a game since May 2.

After a frustrating couple of months of inactivity, Urías earned the rest he’ll get during the All-Star break. He might need it after putting the team on his back Thursday night.

“It’s really frustrating,” Urías said in Spanish. “Everyone wants to be out here, competing, doing their thing, being able to put their foot in the sand, help the team win.”

The Dodgers (49-38) took three of four games from the Pirates (40-47). Thanks to the Arizona Diamondbacks (50-38) losing their fourth straight game, the Dodgers are now a half-game back of first place in the National League West.

The Dodgers’ offense consisted of Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman, and a well-timed home run by Max Muncy.

Betts (2 for 4) led off the first inning with a double to left field against right-hander Johan Oviedo (3-10). Freeman (3 for 4) followed with his 15th home run of the season.

After Peralta’s gaffe helped tie the game 2-2 in the second inning, it appeared Urías might be stuck with a no-decision. But a double by Freeman, followed by Muncy’s 20th home run of the season, gave the Dodgers a 4-2 lead in the sixth inning.

Freeman, who knocked in an insurance run in the seventh inning, went 7 for 17 in the series. Betts went 4 for 15 with three walks and a home run. Muncy went 4 for 14 with two homers and two walks.

Each of Muncy’s home runs exited over the center field fence – a positive sign for the struggling slugger.

“It just tells me my hands are doing what they’re supposed to do,” Muncy said. “Even though I pull the ball quite often, my approach is always to the center of the field. It’s just my hands don’t always allow that to happen. Even the first at-bat, I hit a line drive to left field. That just tells me that my swing’s doing what it’s supposed to do. If I just keep trusting that, there’s going to be some results coming.”

Nick Robertson, Brusdar Graterol and Alex Vesia kept Pittsburgh scoreless over the final three innings on a short-handed night for the Dodgers’ bullpen.

Robertson had been recalled earlier in the day from Triple-A Oklahoma City. Graterol was a game-time decision, with prospect Landon Knack ready to take his place on the roster in case a minor shoulder injury sent Graterol to the injured list. Vesia converted his first save of 2023, in only his second opportunity.

The Dodgers had been considering bringing starter Noah Syndergaard off the injured list early in case their bullpen needed reinforcements for their two-game series against the Angels. Thanks to Urías’ long start and a clean finish by the bullpen, Roberts said that won’t be necessary.

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