You know how when Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw does really really good in a game and then during his postgame interview he says that he sucked, even though he didn’t suck at all but he is his own toughest critic?

Well get ready for another one of those guys.

On Friday night, Dodgers 2015 first round draft pick Walker Buehler made his third start of the season for the franchise’s Advanced Single-A Rancho Cucamonga Quakes in front of a sold out LoanMart Field. All the fireball-throwing right-hander did was toss three more shutout innings to extend his season scoreless innings streak to nine. Yet when asked about his outing, the 22-year-old Crestview Hills, Kentucky native was not entirely happy with his performance.

“It was kind of a tale of two different games,” Buehler said, after the Quakes 5-4 win over the Inland Empire 66ers (Angels). “The first inning again was a little sporadic – just like last week – and then the second and third innings progressively got better … just trying to get in an inning-free mode in inning one I think is the big thing moving forward.”

There isn’t a pitcher alive who wouldn’t absolutely love to be as “sporadic” as Quakes right-hander Walker Buehler. (Photo credit – Ron Cervenka)

The amazing thing about Buehler’s first inning on Friday is that after a leadoff walk to 66ers center fielder Michael Hermosillo, Buehler struck out second baseman Cody Ramer swinging at a 99-MPH fastball. Quakes catcher Will Smith then threw out Hermosillo attempting to steal second and Sixers left fielder Jared Foster then flied out to center to end the inning. Although Buehler may consider this sporadic, most guys would kill for an inning like this.

Buehler hit 99-MPH several times during the first inning of Friday’s eventual 5-4 win over the Inland Empire 66ers. (Photo credit – Ron Cervenka)

In his second inning of work, Buehler gave up a leadoff single to 66ers third baseman Jose Rojas, which was followed by a sacrifice bunt by shortstop Connor Justus to move Rojas to second base. But with 66ers right fielder Brendon Sanger at the plate, Smith also caught Rojas stealing third base. Sanger then grounded out harmlessly to short to end the inning.

As for that “progressively got better” thing, Buehler set the Inland Empire boys down in order in the third inning with a ground out to short, a called strike out and a swinging strike out to end Buehler’s night, in which he allowed no runs on one hit with a walk and three strikeouts in his 3.0 innings of work, having made a total of 47 pitches, of which 27 were strikes.

On the season, Buehler has yet to allow an earned run on four hits – all singles – while walking one and striking out (wait for it…) 15 in his nine total innings pitched.

“He did a good job settling down as the innings progressed,” said Quakes manager Drew Saylor. “I think he threw a better breaking ball tonight than he’s thrown the last couple of nights. The fastball he kind of got himself down where he needed to be at, showed some late life and beat some bats. It’s electric stuff coming out of his hand.”

Speaking of bats, those from the Quakes dugout came to life on Friday. In fact, only two Quakes starters failed to get a hit on the night, with Quakes first baseman Ibandel Isabel slugging his team-high fourth home run of the season – a towering solo shot to left-center field – to leadoff the bottom of the second inning that put the Rancho squad up 2-0 at the time. They would add two more runs in the inning and picked up the eventual game winning run in the bottom of the fifth inning on an RBI double off the bat of Quakes slugger DJ Peters.

Ibandel Isabel’s monster blast in the bottom of the second inning was his fourth home run on the season – tops on the team. (Photo credit – Ron Cervenka)

To be fair, the 66ers made the game interesting by scoring their fourth run of the night in the top half of the ninth inning on a solo home run by former Quakes catcher Julian Leon given up by right-hander Dean Kremer. They also had the potential tying run at first base on a single by Cody Ramer. Fortunately Ramer’s hit came after an absolutely huge 6-3 double play and was followed by a ground out to Quakes first baseman Ibandel Isabel to end the game.

With the win – which went to Kremer – the Quakes are now 8-7 on the season (4-0 at home) and lead the Cal League South Division by 1.0 games over the second place Lancaster JetHawks.