Padres’ Walker Buehler gets 100% real after beating Dodgers for 1st time

The San Diego Padres gave Walker Buehler a night that felt personal, even if he insisted it was not bitter. In an NL West matchup with real weight, Buehler beat the Los Angeles Dodgers for the first time and helped the Padres roll to a 7-1 win. According to MLB.com’s AJ Cassavell, the former Los Angeles arm did not hide his edge after facing his old team under the stadium lights.

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

But the Dodgers meant something different. Buehler spent 2017 to 2022 in Los Angeles before returning in 2024, becoming a two-time All-Star and World Series champion while building part of his identity in that uniform. There was no bad blood, but there was history, and that made this Padres win hit harder.

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

Then Buehler backed up every word. He worked 5 1/3 innings of one-run ball, striking out five and allowing just three hits. Mookie Betts took him deep in the second inning, but the Dodgers barely touched him after that as San Diego took control of the night.

Walker Buehler flips the Padres-Dodgers rivalry

The twist is hard to miss: Buehler once owned the Padres from the other side of this rivalry. In 12 starts against San Diego with the Dodgers, he went 6-1 with a 1.80 ERA. Now he is wearing brown and gold, and he just gave Padres fans the kind of revenge game they can replay all week.

His June has changed the way this story feels. Buehler now owns a 1.71 ERA across five starts this month, giving the Padres more than just another good outing. He is building momentum, and this one sounded like a statement.

The Padres still have two more games left in this series, giving the Dodgers a clear chance to answer. But for one night, Buehler owned the moment, San Diego felt the roar, and the NL West fight suddenly looked even more alive.

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