August 4th, 2019 at 8:00 am 
by Ron Cervenka Dodgers right-hander Walker Buehler became only the third pitcher in major league history to have multiple starts with 15 or more strikeouts and no walks in the same season, joining Hall of Famer Pedro Martinez (1999 and 2000) and Dwight Gooden (1984).
The just turned 25-year-old (on July 28) Lexington, KY native and Dodgers first-round draft pick in 2015 out of Vanderbilt University did so on Saturday night in front of a soldout Dodger Stadium crowd of 54,010 in the Dodgers 4-1 win over the NL West fourth-place San Diego Padres.
“Just looking at the way he was throwing the baseball, there was no stress, the delivery wasn’t compromised at all,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts told reporters after the game. “He was getting ahead all night long. He had his way with a good lineup over there. It’s hard to imagine having more command than he did tonight. Was as dominant as could be.”
It was the fourth time this season and the fifth time in his brief three-year MLB career that Buehler has had double-digit strikeouts. It was also his second complete game this season (and of his career), joining left-hander Hyun-Jin Ryu as the only other Dodger starter to toss a complete game this season. Ryu did so on May 7 – also at Dodger Stadium – against the Atlanta Braves.
Buehler had not allowed a run all night until the top of the eighth inning when he gave up a solo home run to Padres pinch-hitter Manuel Margot, which cleared the wall in right-center field. Asked if he was thinking about a complete-game shutout to that point, he admitted that it had crossed his mind.
“I mean, getting late into the game like that it crosses your mind,” Buehler answered.” I think Margot hit the worst pitch I threw all night and did a good job with it. So hats off to him.”
In his 9.0 innings of work, Buehler allowed just the one run on five hits while walking none and 15 strikeouts to improve his record to 10-2 and lower his ERA to 3.22.
“He had all his pitches tonight,” said Dodgers rookie catcher Will Smith, who first caught Buehler while the two were with the Dodgers Advanced Single-A Rancho Cucamonga Quakes in 2017. “He was locating, keeping guys off balance, pretty much overpowering them.”
Play Ball!
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Another sensational game pitched by Walker Buehler. I have a feeling there’s more to come.
The moment I saw him slice up the Padres hitters in that 1st inning, that’s when I knew he was gonna be alright the rest of the way. Was expecting him to go a solid seven, but he ends up going the distance and a saving the pen completely. Definitely, the No. 2 starter behind Ryu this season!
Agreed, Buehler is definitely the number 2 starter behind Ryu. And what a starting duo it is, best in baseball.
Cool stat that multiple 15 plus SO and zero walks. Dang on. Dodgers are sure fun.