CINCINNATI _ The distance between the two men can be measured in milestones. When the Los Angeles Dodgers drafted Chase Utley in 1997, Julio Urias was a 9-month-old toddler in Culiacan, Mexico. When the Dodgers signed Urias in 2012, Utley had already made five All-Star teams, anchored the Phillies to five consecutive division titles and played a starring role in a World Series championship.
Seventeen years, seven months and 26 days separate the eldest member of the Dodgers roster from the youngest. In a 4-0 victory over the Reds, Utley paced the offense while Urias stymied his opponents. Utley provided a solo homer and an RBI single. Urias offered six scoreless innings.
The Dodgers (68-55) snapped a three-game losing streak. Urias breathed life into a club desperate for a quality start. This weekend had been cruel to the veterans in the rotation.
Bud Norris could not finish the fourth on Friday. Brett Anderson recorded only nine outs on Saturday. Inside his dugout, hours before Urias threw his first pitch, manager Dave Roberts sounded almost wistful about his desire from a competent outing from a starter.
"Obviously," Roberts said, "we're in a situation where any length would be good."
Urias provided plenty. He scattered six singles. He struck out six and walked none. In the first inning, he picked off former Dodger Jose Peraza at first base. The play pushed Urias into a tie for the big-league lead with five pickoffs this season. He pushed his pitch count to 97.
Utley handed Urias a lead in the game's first at-bat. Reds starter Anthony DeSclafini challenged Utley with a 2-1 fastball at the waist. Utley drilled the pitch into the right-field seats.
In the third inning, rookie outfielder Andrew Toles, who was called up in the morning, chopped a leadoff infield single. A bunt by Urias advanced Toles to second. Toles raced home when Utley singled into right. Utley barged into second base when the Reds threw home.
Utley did not stay at second for long. Corey Seager shot a full-count fastball into left for an RBI single.
The Dodgers manufactured a fourth run in the sixth inning, thanks to a single by Adrian Gonzalez, a double by Yasmani Grandal and a sacrifice fly by Joc Pederson.
