SAN DIEGO -- Luis Campusano did it all on Friday night, throwing out three attempted basestealers before launching a walk-off two-run homer that set the Padres to a dramatic 3-2 victory over the Yankees in 10 innings.
Campusano turned on a first-pitch fastball from Yankees right-hander Paul Blackburn and launched it to the left-field seats, sending Petco Park into a frenzy. The Padres entered Friday’s game having lost seven of nine. They’d dropped six straight one-run games.
This was an extraordinary way to snap that streak.
“You can’t ask for more, honestly, from Campy,” said Padres manager Craig Stammen. “That home run was what we needed.”
Here’s some instant reaction from Petco Park, as the Padres moved back into playoff position, a half-game up on the Diamondbacks in the National League Wild Card race.
An all-around brilliant night from Campusano
If you thought it was probably pretty rare for a catcher to throw out three base-stealers, then hit a walk-off home run, well … you’re right.
Since caught stealing was first tracked across both leagues in 1951, only one other player had ever done so -- Sammy Taylor in April 1961. So it had been 65 years since any catcher had turned in a night like this one from Campusano.
“Fun night,” Campusano said with a smirk afterward. “I had a good time.”
Campusano has always been a bat-first catcher, but he’s taken major strides this season behind the plate. The Padres have consistently praised the complete nature of his game -- and Friday night was the best evidence imaginable.
First, he caught Trent Grisham stealing. Then, he caught 40-steal Jazz Chisholm Jr. in the fifth. In the 10th, he erased Spencer Jones trying to steal third base after the rookie put the Yankees ahead by a run.
That set the stage for Campusano's 10th-inning heroics -- and a win the Padres desperately needed.
“It’s ‘what road trip?’ now, after that,” Stammen said. “Scratching and clawing the entire game and feeling like it could go in any direction. … Got this homestand off to a good start.”
An efficient night from the bullpen
The Padres’ middle relievers made quick work of the Yankees' lineup. Yuki Matsui completed the sixth on just 12 pitches. Bradgley Rodriguez needed nine to get through the seventh. Adrian Morejon was the workhorse, requiring 14 pitches to strike out all three Yankees he faced in the eighth.
It’s been a theme of the Padres' bullpen all season, really. They’ve not only been effective; they’ve generally been efficient. Which, in turn, allows them to be even more effective.
“The biggest thing that that does is it allows them to bounce back the next day and the day after that, a week from now, two weeks from now,” Stammen said. “Just because there’s less of a burden on their arm. They threw a ton of strikes tonight, pounded the strike zone.”
Mason Miller did, too, but he was called upon to pitch two innings. He was only a Ben Rice 0-2 popup away from an immaculate inning in the ninth. Miller struck out the next two Yankees on three pitches apiece.
With the light workload in the ninth, Miller would be called upon for the 10th as well. He allowed a leadoff single to Jones, plating the automatic runner but escaped without further damage -- thanks in large part to his catcher.
Buehler’s surge continues
The Padres added Robbie Ray and Casey Mize at the Trade Deadline. Randy Vásquez has rejoined the rotation and has been solid. But outside of ace Michael King, the single most stabilizing force in the San Diego rotation lately has been Buehler.
He pitched five innings of one-run ball on Friday night, allowing only Rice’s solo home run in the third. Otherwise, he worked efficiently and limited hard contact all night, while striking out six.
“You strike out more guys than you throw innings pitched and you put us in a position to win -- that’s kind of where I’m at and what my job is,” Buehler said.
Buehler has a 3.04 ERA in nine starts since the All-Star break. He’s been at his best when the Padres have needed him most -- and he’s earned some important starts down the stretch.