PITTSBURGH -- Walbert Ureña has done more than show he can be effective during his rookie season with the Angels. The right-hander has proven he can go toe-to-toe with some of Major League Baseball’s top pitchers.
Ureña more than held his own in Sunday's 1-0 defeat when facing reigning National League Cy Young Award winner Paul Skenes and the Pirates, tossing eight innings of one-run ball.
Yet the 22-year-old Ureña (9-10) wound up taking the hard-luck loss. Henry Davis’ home run in the third inning proved to be the game’s only run and sent the Angels to their 11th loss in their last 13 games. Los Angeles dropped two of three in the series at PNC Park, and both losses were 1-0.
Skenes (10-11) grew up as an Angels fan in Orange County, Calif., and pitched 5 1/3 innings while facing the Halos for the first time and combining with four relievers on a five-hit shutout.
Skenes was the fourth All-Star that Ureña has matched up against since the beginning of August, as he has also faced the Brewers’ Jacob Misiorowski, the Marlins’ Sandy Alcantara and the Rangers’ Jacob deGrom. Though Ureña was tagged for four runs in 2 1/3 innings by the Marlins, he pitched six shutout innings against both the Brewers and Rangers.
“[Ureña’s] done extremely well against some great pitchers,” Angels manager Kurt Suzuki said. “Kudos to him. He pitched an amazing game. He was awesome.”
Ureña surrendered just three hits while striking out four and walking one. He also threw an economical 88 pitches, including 60 strikes, and got 15 outs on ground balls.
“I was just trying to attack, trying to get ground balls, and I think that’s what we do,” Ureña said. “I was just trying to attack every hitter on every pitch. Even the home run by Davis came on a pretty good sinker, and I might throw it again if I had the chance.”
Suzuki did not hesitate to send Ureña out for the eighth inning for the first time in his 22 career starts. Ureña pitched seven innings twice this season, including in his previous start last Monday when he allowed only one run to beat the Yankees.
“[Ureña’s] strong, man,” Suzuki said. “We’ve seen it all year. He gets 100 pitches, and he’s still throwing 100 [mph]. It just looks like he isn’t even putting any effort into it; his delivery is so easy. You’re just kind of amazed every time he takes the ball.”
Ureña certainly makes it seem like his rookie year has been effortless. His 2.74 ERA through 26 games, including 24 starts, should merit some consideration in the American League Rookie of the Year voting.
“God is my everything, and I pray a lot,” Ureña said. “I’ve been working; I have my discipline, my same routine every day, and just trying to do the same thing every day to be successful.”
Ureña’s rookie success has been a bright spot for the Angels, who have the worst record in the major leagues at 54-89. No one has enjoyed watching Ureña develop more than Suzuki, a rookie manager who was a catcher in the Major Leagues for 16 seasons before retiring in 2022.
“[Ureña’s] been incredible, and he keeps getting better,” Suzuki said with a smile.