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 probably 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.)
Of course, Friday night offered Buehler his stiffest test yet -- a start against his former club and perhaps the best offense in baseball.
Buehler continued to roll. He pitched 5 1/3 innings of one-run ball, 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.
He was every bit that good against the Dodgers on Friday. In fact, perhaps the only surprise was that Buehler didn’t go longer. Speaking of which …
Matsui’s big moment
With one out in the sixth, Buehler walked Andy Pages, prompting manager Craig Stammen to emerge from the home dugout. Buehler had thrown only 74 pitches. But Stammen preferred left-hander Yuki Matsui with three of four lefties due up.
It was quite 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.
They went to their usual high-leverage options -- Jason Adam and Adrian Morejon -- for the seventh and eighth innings, respectively. After a four-run eighth, closer Mason Miller was able to take the night off.
Double figures for France
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.
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.