Walker Buehler, you're my hero.
The 23-year-old wunderkind allowed just one run in seven superb innnings, and the Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the San Diego Padres, 6-1, on Sunday afternoon at Dodger Stadium.
The Memorial Day Weekend series with San Diego saw the two division rivals split the first two games before the Dodgers took the series in the rubber match.
Los Angeles has now won eight of their last ten games, as they continue to climb their way back up the National League West standings.
In his first start against San Diego on May 4, Buehler threw six no-hit innings as the Dodgers recorded their first combined no-hitter in franchise history in Monterrey, Mexico.
"Everything worked," Dodgers' manager Dave Roberts said of Buehler. "I can't remember the last time he walked a guy. He was in complete command."
So it was only fitting that Buehler (3-1) would be just as dominant in his second career start against the Friars, as the rookie allowed just one run on four hits with no walks, and tied a career high with eight strikeouts in seven strong innings.
"You put together some confidence and it just grows," Buehler said of his seventh start of the season. "This game will humble you if you get out of control with it. I try and creep as high as I can to that line."
Buehler helped his own cause with a leadoff single to start the bottom of the third inning for the Boys in Blue. Chris Taylor followed with a double down the right field line, and Enrique Hernandez plated the first run of the game with an RBI single.
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"I had a little bit of an out-of-body experience," said Buehler of his single. "I was able to put a bat on it and it went where they weren't."
Taylor would score on a fielder's choice double-play and the Dodgers handed Buehler a two-run lead heading into the fourth.
"This is more of what the talent in this room can do," said Buehler of the Dodgers play as of late. "It took a little while, but I feel like we're playing more like ourselves."
San Diego scored their only run of the game in the top of the fifth inning after a leadoff double by Freddy Galvis. Galvis advanced to third on a wild pitch and then scored on a sacrifice fly to left field by Raffy Lopez. Lopez has driven in four runs in six games against the Dodgers in his career.
The Dodgers flipped the power switch in their final at-bats as Max Muncy marveled the crowd with a two-run homer off Tyler Webb.
The two-run blast was Muncy's first of the season against a left-handed pitcher and his second home run against the Padres.
"It was good to get that one," Muncy said of his first home run against a lefty. "It was very important. Anytime you can get a little cushion you always want it."
Four batters later, Cody Bellinger crushed a four-seam fastball from Webb into the batter's eye in center field for his eighth home run of the season.
In 15 day games this season, Bellinger is hittting .339 (17-for-57) along with four doubles, one home run and eight RBI. The Dodgers are 8-7 in those games.
"Kemp told me today that the 'chiropractor had hits in him,' so I went to see him and he cracked my back a few times and I hit a homer," joked Bellinger of his eigthh inning bomb. "I've been feeling really good in the cage lately so hopefully that carries over."
With the win, the Dodgers improved to 6-3 against the Padres on the season and have won a season-high three consecutive series.
Up Next:
The Dodgers continue their season-high 10-game homestand as they welcome the Phillies and former front office executive Gabe Kapler, now the manager of Philadelphia, to town. RHP Vince Velasquez will start against RHP Brock Stewart at 5:10PM PST.
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