Higashioka burns old team as Rangers beat up on Kolek and Padres
Jul 5, 2025; San Diego, California, USA; San Diego Padres manager Mike Shildt (8) takes the ball from starting pitcher Stephen Kolek (32) during a sixth inning pitching change against the Texas Rangers at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: David Frerker-Imagn Images
Petco Park- San Diego, CA
Hoping to ride the momentum of a walk-off win on Friday night to cap off the Independence Day festivities, the Padres called on Stephen Kolek to take the mound against the Texas Rangers on Saturday.
The Rangers countered with veteran lefty Patrick Corbin, who is having something of a career renaissance with the Rangers this season.
The trend with Kolek is that he is either nearly unbreakable on the mound or comes unraveled right from the start. He has four starts where he pitched at least into the sixth inning while allowing zero runs. Saturday marked the third time he has allowed five runs or more.
The Rangers feasted on Kolek, leaving pitches over the plate as he allowed nine hits, including three extra-base hits.
Josh Smith led off the entire game with a solo homer, putting the Rangers up 1-0 before most fans had even settled into their seats.
The Padres countered in the bottom of the second, when Jake Cronenworth deposited a ball into the right field bleachers for a go-ahead homer.
San Diego’s lead would be short-lived. Catcher Kyle Higashioka returned to San Diego as a member of the Rangers after having a career year with the Padres last year. Very predictably, he came up huge for Texas against his 2024 squad. He launched a two-run, go-ahead shot of his own over the left field wall. The Rangers would never again relinquish the lead.
The Rangers added two more in the fourth, with another RBI from Higashioka, extending the lead to 5-2.
Yuki Matsui inherited runners on first and third in the sixth and allowed one to score, making it 6-2.
San Diego finally got into the Texas bullpen in the seventh and immediately rattled Luke Jackson. The inning began with two walks and a single. The Friars had something cooking with the bases loaded, nobody out, down by four with the heart of the order coming up. It felt like the turning point in the game, either way.
Jackson Merrill lined a fly ball into center, scoring one run on a sacrifice fly. Manny Machado worked the count and lined a sac fly of his own to score two runs in the inning. Unfortunately, the rally was cut short as Xander Bogaerts struck out. While the Padres cut the deficit in half, it felt like a missed opportunity.
Speaking of Machado, earlier in the game, he logged career hit number 1,998, just two shy of the 2,000-hit milestone.
Texas scratched across another run in the eighth to make it 7-4. The Padres had their work cut out for them in the bottom of the ninth, down by three with a lackluster offense.
San Diego was able to make the Rangers sweat in the inning. Manager Bruce Bochy even made a pitching change in the bottom of the ninth. With a walk and two singles, the Padres had the bases loaded for Bogaerts with two outs. Bochy turned to reliever Shawn Armstrong, who induced the ground ball out to end the game and seal the 7-4 win for Texas. The Padres’ rally fell woefully short. Overall, the Padres went 1-for-6 with runners in scoring position. They left 10 total runners on base.
The Padres will seek the series win in the rubber match on Sunday Night Baseball.
Native of Escondido, CA. Lived in San Diego area for 20 years. Padres fan since childhood (mid-90s). I have been writing since 2014. I currently live near Seattle, WA and am married to a Seattle sports girl. I wore #19 on my high school baseball team for Tony Gwynn. I am a stats and sports history nerd. I attended BYU on the Idaho campus. I also love Star Wars.