ANAHEIM -- After scuffling in his past two starts, allowing a combined six runs over 8 2/3 innings, right-hander Walbert Ureña got back on track with a stellar showing against the Yankees on Monday.
Ureña tied a career high with eight strikeouts over seven frames while allowing one run on five hits and no walks in a 10-1 win in the series opener at Angel Stadium. It snapped a seven-game losing streak for the Angels, as Ureña improved to 9-9 with a 2.85 ERA in 25 outings (23 starts) this year.
The 22-year-old rookie has struck out 120 and walked 64 in 123 1/3 innings this year and could receive some down-ballot votes for this year’s AL Rookie of the Year Award. His ERA ranks as the fifth best in the AL with a minimum of 120 innings and is second among rookies behind only Parker Messick’s 2.46 ERA.
Ureña had uncharacteristically struggled in his past two outings but had much better command against the Yankees. His stuff was also electric, as his sinker’s velocity reached as high as 101 mph. His changeup, which averaged 91.8 mph, also kept the opposing hitters off-balance and helped generate eight of his 16 swings and misses. But his sweeper was also sharp and produced three whiffs and three strikeouts.
Ureña has been a revelation for the Angels this season and has helped solidify a rotation that has been surprisingly strong recently. Angels starters combined to post a 2.51 ERA in August that ranked as the best in the Majors and the best by the organization in any month since April 1982 (2.24 ERA in 22 starts).
Ureña got into trouble early, allowing two hits in the first inning while catcher Tyler Heineman was charged with a passed ball that put two runners in scoring position. But Ureña struck out Trent Grisham to get out of the jam, and then things started to really get rolling for him the rest of the way.