After 7 years tormenting Padres, Buehler relishes chance to shove vs. LA

SAN DIEGO -- For nearly a decade, Walker Buehler has starred in the Padres-Dodgers rivalry. It’s just that … he usually did it wearing blue.

But on Friday night, facing his former team for the second time -- and the first time as a Padre -- Buehler led San Diego to a series-opening 7-1 victory over the Dodgers. Ty France's three-run home run put the Padres on top early, and they tacked on some late insurance runs en route to their fourth straight victory.

Here’s some instant reaction from Petco Park:

Buehler’s renaissance continues
The Padres had high hopes for Buehler when they signed him. But even they likely didn’t envision this. Improbably, Buehler has become one of the team’s most reliable starting pitchers. In June, he’s even looked something like an ace. (Even if he’s doing it a bit differently these days.)

Before the game Dodgers manager Dave Roberts noted that he knew Buehler would come out with something to prove.

“Yeah,” Buehler said. “I want to kick everyone’s [butt]. I want to beat everyone.”

But the Dodgers specifically? Even if Buehler acknowledges there’s no ill will whatsoever, even if Buehler was clear that he deeply appreciates the time he spent in Los Angeles …

“I certainly don’t want to lose to them,” Buehler said. “So, yeah. Doc is not wrong.”

Buehler backed it up. He pitched 5 1/3 innings of one-run ball, while striking out five and allowing just three hits. Mookie Betts took Buehler deep in the second. But otherwise, the Dodgers made very little hard contact against Buehler, whose June ERA stands at a remarkable 1.71 across five starts.

Buehler, of course, once dominated the Padres as part of this rivalry. In 12 starts against San Diego with the Dodgers, Buehler was 6-1 with a 1.80 ERA. And now …

“I’m 1-0 against them as a San Diego Padre,” he said with a wry grin.

Matsui’s big moment
Perhaps the only surprising part about Buehler’s night was that he didn’t go longer. But with one out in the sixth, he walked Andy Pages, prompting manager Craig Stammen to emerge from the home dugout. Buehler had thrown only 74 pitches. But he’d gone 3-0 on the first two hitters of the inning, and Stammen preferred left-hander Yuki Matsui with a lefty-heavy portion of the Dodgers lineup due up.

“I kind of understand the decision,” Buehler said. “The misses got a little bit bigger. Back-to-back 3-0 counts isn’t the most confidence-instilling thing to a manager.”

Nonetheless, it was a show of faith in Matsui, who has been solid this year, but hasn’t been entrusted with too many high-leverage spots. Freddie Freeman proceeded to double off the wall, putting Matsui and the Padres in a tricky situation.

Stammen opted to intentionally walk Betts, loading the bases. Matsui then retired Max Muncy and Kyle Tucker to escape the threat with the Padres’ two-run lead still intact.

“As a relief pitcher, that’s what you strive for,” Matsui said through interpreter Ike Ogata. “Ultimately, that’s the entire reason to compete at this level, in these situations. That’s the reason I came over here from Japan.”

Added Stammen: “He’s been just nails. We had him in a long-relief, low-leverage role, and he’s worked his way into facing 3-4-5-6 for the Dodgers.”

Stammen went to his usual high-leverage options -- Jason Adam and Adrian Morejon -- for the seventh and eighth innings, respectively. After a four-run bottom of the eighth, closer Mason Miller was able to take the night off.

Double figures for France -- but reason for an injury concern?
A year ago, in 138 games between Minnesota and Toronto, France went deep a total of seven times. It’s not July yet -- and he just launched his 10th homer of the season.

France took Roki Sasaki deep in the bottom of the second inning, a three-run blast that gave San Diego an early 3-1 lead. It was France’s fourth home run in the past week.

In his next trip to the plate, France was plunked in the left wrist by a 98.9 mph Sasaki fastball. After a long delay in which France lay on the ground in obvious pain, he remained in the game -- though he was lifted in the ninth with the Padres leading by six.

Stammen noted that France seemed to be OK initially but that he felt it again on a slide late in the game. France’s status moving forward is somewhat uncertain, and he’s expected to undergo X-rays either Friday night or Saturday morning. The Padres can ill afford any sort of injury to France, considering how important he has been this season. He owns an .810 OPS and has been one of the team’s most valuable defenders.

“He’s had some clutch hits for us, he’s had some big home runs,” Stammen said. “Just when our offense is struggling, he’s come up with the big hit. Tonight was no different.”