SAN DIEGO, Calif. (July 5, 2025) — In a lineup loaded with power bats and rising stars, it was Kyle Higashioka — hitting from the ninth spot — who stole the spotlight Saturday night. The veteran catcher delivered a 3-for-3 performance with five RBIs, including a clutch two-run homer, to lift the Texas Rangers to a 7-4 win over the San Diego Padres at Petco Park.
The win evens the weekend series at a game apiece and hands Texas (44-45) a crucial bounce-back victory as they continue to chase momentum heading into the second half of the season.
Higashioka Delivers From the Bottom
Batting ninth, Higashioka did more than set the table — he carried the offense. After Jake Burger was hit by a pitch to open the third inning, Higashioka launched his second home run of the season, a two-run shot that put the Rangers ahead 3-2 — a lead they would never relinquish.
In the sixth, he added a sacrifice fly to score Wyatt Langford, and then in the eighth, he capped his night with a two-out RBI single, bringing his total to five runs driven in.
“Kyle was huge tonight,” Rangers manager Bruce Bochy said postgame. “He gave us a spark from the bottom of the lineup. That’s exactly what you want to see from your veterans stepping up in big moments.”
Patrick Corbin Finds His Groove
Veteran left-hander Patrick Corbin (5-7) delivered one of his best starts in a Rangers uniform. The 34-year-old tossed six innings, giving up two runs on six hits, and kept the Padres’ potent lineup at bay long enough for the Texas offense to build a cushion.
“Corbin was steady,” Bochy said. “He attacked the zone, worked out of trouble, and gave us exactly what we needed.”
Padres Battle Late, But Fall Short
Luis Arraez was a bright spot for San Diego (47-41), going 4-for-5 and nearly igniting a ninth-inning comeback. After singling to load the bases with two outs, the Padres brought Xander Bogaerts to the plate as the tying run. But Shawn Armstrong entered in relief and induced a grounder that led to a game-ending force out at third, earning his third save of the season.
The Padres had clawed back earlier in the seventh after Luke Jackson loaded the bases with no outs. Jackson Merrill and Manny Machado brought home runs with sacrifice flies, trimming the deficit to 6-4, but they never got closer.
Machado, who finished 1-for-4, now sits just two hits away from 2,000 for his career — a milestone he could reach in Sunday’s series finale.
Quick Strikes and Big Hits
The game started with a bang as Josh Smith hit the first pitch of the night from Stephen Kolek (3-4) into the right-field seats for his eighth homer, giving Texas an early 1-0 lead. After Jake Cronenworth responded with a two-run shot in the second, the Rangers countered with a flurry of timely hits.
Langford scored twice, Jonah Heim added an RBI double, and Burger and Higashioka combined for four hits in the 6-9 portion of the batting order, helping Texas rack up seven runs on 12 hits.
Kolek struggled through 5.1 innings, giving up six runs on nine hits.
What’s Next
The series wraps up Sunday afternoon, with RHP Jack Leiter (4-5, 4.29 ERA) set to take the mound for Texas. The Padres have not yet announced their starter.
With Saturday’s win, the Rangers snapped a trend — San Diego had taken 13 of the previous 15 meetings between the two teams dating back to 2020. Now, Texas has a chance to claim the series and get back to .500 with a win on Sunday.
