Rangers’ Kyle Higashioka Shines in 7-4 Win Against Padres
SAN DIEGO — Kyle Higashioka received an ovation from San Diego Padres fans in his first game back at Petco Park since he signed with the Texas Rangers this past winter.
They weren’t as thrilled to see him in his second game back.
Higashioka had a season-high three hits, drove in five runs for the second time this year and recorded his third career stolen base in a 7-4 win against the Padres Saturday night. He’s the first player in Texas history to total five RBIs and a stolen base in a single game as a catcher.
Higashioka’s Big Game
He gave the Rangers a 3-2 lead in the third inning with a two-run home run off of a Stephen Kolek slider, singled in a run during a fourth-inning rally, drove in his fourth run with a sacrifice fly in the sixth and carded his fifth on a single in the eighth inning. It was his second game with five RBIs this season; he’s the only Rangers hitter to reach that number in a single game this year.
“He’s had some really good games here for [the Padres] and I’m sure he wanted to play well here,” Rangers manager Bruce Bochy, also a former San Diego catcher, said. “I see the bat just getting better with him. I was really, really happy for him.”
Higashioka’s Career Background
The 35-year-old played for the Padres last year after his first seven big league seasons were spent with the New York Yankees. He hit a career-high 17 home runs last season in San Diego before he signed a two-year, $13.5 million deal with the Rangers this winter to split catcher duties with incumbent starter Jonah Heim.
He slashed .184/.279/.211 in the months of May and June and hit just .190 against fastballs — a pitch that he is a career .248 hitter against — during that span. He’s 4 for 7 with two extra base hits in two July games and carded three of his hits (and Saturday’s sacrifice fly) on fastball variants.
Higashioka’s Thoughts on His Game
“To be honest,” Higashioka said, “everything revolves around hitting the fastball. I think if you can get to the fastball easily and not cheat, then everything else you can handle.”
Higashioka drove in five of the Rangers’ seven runs. The other two came courtesy of a Josh Smith leadoff home run in the first inning vs. San Diego right-hander Stephen Kolek and the other came via a Jonah Heim double in the fourth inning.
Other Rangers’ Players’ Contributions
Outfielder Wyatt Langford, in his first game back off of the injured list, worked a two-out walk in the fourth inning. He fell behind 0-2 against Kolek but fouled a pitch off and passed on four balls to begin a rally. Heim, who entered Saturday with a .172/.192/.273 in his previous 30 games, ended an eight-pitch at bat with a double down the right field line that scored Langford from first base to give the Rangers a 4-2 lead.
Higashioka drove a Kolek fastball 103.2 mph into left field two at bats later to score Heim to give the Rangers a 5-2 lead.
“That’s what it’s about, getting those quality at bats,” Bochy said. “Just grinding, grinding, using the whole field. We did a good job of that.”
Kershaw will join Rangers’ SP Jacob deGrom in Atlanta for the Midsummer Classic.
The two-time Cy Young Award winner is the only Ranger who will represent the club on July 15 at Atlanta’s Truist Park, barring a substitution.
FC Dallas head coach Eric Quill also addressed the flooding after a game on Friday night.
More Rangers Coverage
Find more Rangers coverage from The Dallas Morning News here.
Click or tap here to sign up for our Rangers newsletter.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Kyle Higashioka’s impressive performance in the Rangers’ 7-4 win against the Padres was a significant factor in the team’s success. His ability to hit the fastball and drive in runs has been a key aspect of his game, and he continues to improve with each passing day. The Rangers’ manager, Bruce Bochy, was thrilled with Higashioka’s performance, and the team’s fans are eager to see what the future holds for this talented player.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Who is Kyle Higashioka?
