SAN DIEGO -- Buck Showalter thought it might’ve been sticky stuff. Turns out, Joe Musgrove just owns the Mets.

On Friday night at Petco Park, the Padres handed the ball to Musgrove for a crucial start in the scope of their season. They’d been red-hot for most of the second half. But they’d dropped consecutive games for the first time since the All-Star break. San Diego needed a win over the Wild Card-chasing Mets on Friday to restore some measure of separation in the postseason race.

So … Musgrove against the Mets in a big spot? Where have we seen that before?

Like he did in that decisive Game 3 of the 2022 National League Wild Card Series, Musgrove delivered, as the Padres cruised to a 7-0 victory. The veteran right-hander even managed to produce an identical pitching line to that night: seven innings, no runs, one hit.

“Man, that was a masterpiece right there,” said Padres manager Mike Shildt. “Wow. That was imparting your will. He was just in control the whole way.”

No, the Mets did not ask the umpiring crew to check Musgrove’s ears this time, as Showalter had done as manager in 2022. Suffice it to say, that move backfired. Counting that postseason start, Musgrove is now riding a 20-inning scoreless streak against New York, a stretch in which he’s allowed only five hits and one walk, while striking out 21.

“I don’t really hold anything about what happened a few years ago in the playoffs,” Musgrove said. “Obviously there’s that feeling of accomplishment, knowing that I have dominated them before. I know where the holes are. This lineup, a lot of dangerous hitters, but I feel like the plan was very clear. … The plan fit right into what I do really well.”

Musgrove’s plan of attack featured a healthy dose of spin. He threw his usual cutter, sweeper and curveball to great success. But this time he incorporated a new pitch, a tight slider, to sit somewhere between his sweeper and cutter.

Musgrove said he’d only begun experimenting with the pitch during his most recent bullpen session on Tuesday. It was effective enough to break out three days later in the game.

“We had a hard time picking up his breaking ball, the spin,” said current Mets manager Carlos Mendoza.

Musgrove’s gem also featured one of the best defensive plays by a pitcher all season. In the sixth inning, Francisco Lindor hit a chopper in no-man’s land up the first-base line. Musgrove ranged to his left and slid on the infield grass before smoothly flipping to first baseman Jake Cronenworth with his glove for the final out.

“Instinct took over at that point,” Musgrove said. “But I’ve always felt like I’m pretty good at handling my position. Yeah, that was one of my more fun plays.”

It was that kind of night for the Padres, who pounded out 16 hits. Luis Arraez had three of them, including a leadoff home run. Kyle Higashioka also went deep and drove in three. All nine starters recorded at least one hit.

It was a complete team effort on a day where the good news began around lunchtime. That’s when the team reinstated Yu Darvish from the restricted list with a plan for him to return to the rotation later this season. The Padres had spent much of the year without Darvish and Musgrove. Now, it seems both might be in the mix for the stretch run, joining Dylan Cease and Michael King to make up a formidable rotation.

“That’s kind of what we envisioned at the beginning of the year,” said Higashioka. “Unfortunately, those two guys, they’ve been out for a little bit. But the team’s been rolling, and to have those guys added back is just incredible. I think we’re all feeling pretty good about it.”

Musgrove had started the season slowly and spent one short stint on the injured list with right elbow inflammation. He returned too soon, then struggled further with the effects of that injury.

But after a lengthier second stint on the IL, Musgrove has returned as a different pitcher. He owns a 0.57 ERA in three starts. On Friday, the Padres planned to limit him to around 85 pitches, but he was so dominant, he only needed 75 to get through seven.

In short, Musgrove again looks like the type of dominant arm the Padres might rely upon come October. The Mets know that version all too well.