SAN DIEGO — Instant reactions from the Red Sox’ 10-2 win over the San Diego Padres at Petco Park on Friday:

1) The Red Sox improved to 65-52 overall, 22-15 against the National League and 26-30 on the road. The Padres dropped to 65-52.

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2) Manager Alex Cora said before today’s game that Masataka Yoshida is “hitting the ball on the ground and not walking too much.” But Cora added, “We trust the guy. That’s why he’s playing tonight.”

Yoshida — who entered with a 68.2% groundball percentage — lifted one in the air to give Boston the lead. His 365-foot, 101 mph RBI sac fly with the bases loaded against former teammate Nick Pivetta in the fourth made it 1-0 Boston.

Yoshida also crushed a 377-foot, 103 mph two-run homer to right field in the ninth inning, making it 10-2.

Yoshida entered batting .222 with a .263 on-base percentage, .333 slugging percentage, .596 OPS, one homer, three doubles, four RBIs, three runs, one walk and 10 strikeouts in 16 games (57 plate appearances).

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3) Connor Wong knocked in more runs with one swing in the eighth inning than he had all season. His bases-clearing three-run double against Padres reliever Sean Reynolds gave Boston an 8-0 lead. He entered the at-bat with just two RBIs this season.

It was Wong’s first hit with runners in scoring position this season, snapping an 0-for-30 streak.

4) Wilyer Abreu’s 13-game homerless drought ended in the fourth inning when he belted a 423-foot two-run blast against Pivetta. His team-leading 21st home run of the season gave Boston a 4-0 lead. He was 9-for-43 (.209) during his 13-game stretch without homering.

5) Abreu made a nice leaping catch up against the right field wall on Manny Machado’s opposite field 359-foot, 99.1 mph fly ball.

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6) Former Red Sox Nick Pivetta entered with a 2.73 ERA and 0.94 WHIP in 22 starts for the Padres. However, in this game, the Red Sox scored five runs in 6 innings against him.

It marked Pivetta’s third start this season in which he has allowed five or more earned runs. He allowed five hits and three walks while striking out three.

7) Cora said about Red Sox starter Walker Buehler before the game, “Gotta throw strikes with the fastball. When he’s good, he throws competitive fastballs. …We’ve gotta be more efficient.”

Buehler was efficient and put together one of his best starts of the season, throwing 64% strikes over 6 scoreless innings. He pitched around four hits and two walks while striking out four.

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8) Buehler owns the Padres. He improved to 7-1 with a 1.67 ERA (81 innings, 15 earned runs) in 13 career starts against them.

9) Boston and San Diego will play the second game of their three-game series Saturday at 8:40 p.m. Red Sox righty Lucas Giolito (8-2, 3.57 ERA) will start opposite Padres right-hander Michael King (4-2, 2.59 ERA).

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