LOS ANGELES -- Julio Urias will attempt to follow up his strongest outing of the season when the Los Angeles Dodgers meet the Milwaukee Brewers in the second game of a four-game series Friday.
Urias (0-2, 5.82), the 19-year-old Dodgers rookie, struck out a career-tying seven, walked one and allowed two runs on four hits in 5 1/3 innings in a 2-1 setback to the San Francisco Giants on June 12.
"He had a great outing in San Francisco, so I know he's looking forward to (Friday)," Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. "Every outing he's had there's been some good strides. He's just more comfortable. He's more comfortable being on a major league mound, being around the clubhouse, seeing scouting reports, and everything he does speaks to him being more comfortable."
Urias will face Brewers right-hander Zach Davies (5-3, 3.88 ERA). Davies picked up a win in last Sunday's 5-3 decision over the New York Mets. Davis fanned seven with a walk, giving up a run and three hits in six innings. He retired 17 straight batters at one point. After dropping his initial three starts with an 8.78 ERA, Davies has gone 5-0 with a 2.55 ERA in eight starts. He has never faced the Dodgers.
The Brewers would like to duplicate Thursday's offensive production, using the long ball to end a three-game skid in an 8-6 win over the Dodgers. Jonathan Villar hit the go-ahead home run in the ninth inning before 44,183 at Dodger Stadium.
"I'm happy for the home run and the team win today," Villar said.
Villar, who went 2-for-5 with two RBIs, a stolen base and his sixth home run, drilled a two-run blast over the center-field wall off reliever Pedro Baez (0-2) -- breaking a 6-6 tie -- to lift the Brewers (31-36), winners of 14 of their last 20 games at Dodger Stadium.
"It was a fun game on our end," Brewers manager Craig Counsell said. "But it was an interesting game, good game. A lot of big pitches, lot of big plays. (Villar) really got that ball. It was a very well hit ball."
Twice, the Dodgers rallied in the back-and-forth affair. They wiped a 3-0 hole on a three-run homer by Trayce Thompson in the third inning, and forced to come back again with three runs in the sixth to knot the score.
"Was a fastball over the plate and I just put a good swing on it," said Thompson, who has hit eight of his 11 home runs this season at Dodger Stadium. "Had to bear down right there and got a pitch I could handle."
However, the Dodgers couldn't overcome Villar's deep shot to center. Los Angeles loaded the bases in the ninth against closer Jeremy Jeffress, but Jeffress struck out Corey Seager to end the threat.
"It was a fun game on our end," Brewers manager Craig Counsell said. "But it was an interesting game, good game. A lot of big pitches, lot of big plays. (Villar) really got that ball. It was a very well hit ball."
Jeffress hasn't allowed a run or walked a batter on the road this season. He has converted all seven of his road saves.
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