Higashioka’s walk-off homer puts Padres back over .500
Jun 11, 2024; San Diego, California, USA; San Diego Padres catcher Kyle Higashioka (20) is doused after hitting a walk-off home run against the Oakland Athletics at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports
The San Diego Padres’ yo-yo season around the .500 mark continued in very dramatic fashion Tuesday night. A solo HR by catcher Kyle Higashioka in the bottom of the ninth gave the Padres the win. It also gave the Padres a winning record (36-35) and another series win.
Today’s game started very similar to yesterday’s. The A’s jumped to an early 1-0 lead on a first-pitch home run by Abraham Toro. The Padres caught a break in the fifth, as Luis Arraez singled to the first baseman which would have been an easy out, however, the pitcher JP Sears didn’t cover the bag. That allowed Ha-Seong Kim to score.
¡La Regadera y El Patron!
🤠: https://t.co/gyd80CEbUT pic.twitter.com/yyqEbeJCet
— San Diego Padres (@Padres) June 12, 2024
San Diego did not waste the opportunity as Fernando Tatis Jr. hit a double, bringing two runners into scoring position. Tatis extended his hitting streak to 17 games. During the streak, he owns a .413 batting average.
A single by Jurickson Profar scored Arraez and Tatis to give San Diego a 3-1 lead. The Padres had an opportunity to add on more but Profar was cut down at the plate off a double by Manny Machado.
Starting pitcher Randy Vasquez had a solid starting with five innings pitched, two walks, five strikeouts and one run allowed. He continues to show improvement start after start. Both Yuki Matsui and Adrian Morejon pitched quick and quiet innings.
Then, Enyel de Los Santos gave up a two-run home run in the top of the 8th to first-baseman Tyler Soderstrom, tying the game at three. Robert Suarez was brought on with nobody on and two outs and got Seth Brown to ground out on four pitches.
The Padres were not able to capitalize on a bases loaded bottom of the 8th as Merrill flyer out to LF Miguel Andujar. Profar also left the game with knee discomfort.
In the end, all it took was five pitches and one mighty swing from the Padres backup catcher to send the Friar Faithful home happy.
What a way to win it 🤘 pic.twitter.com/da6SYFwUnS
— San Diego Padres (@Padres) June 12, 2024
Higashioka’s heroics put the Padres above .500. They remain in a Wild Card spot as well.
SD will try again to get a series sweep as they send Michael King to the mound to face Hogan Harris on Wednesday at 1:10 pm PT.
A Native San Diegan, Loren has spent his entire life not only as a fan but an active participant in San Diego’s sports world. In 2006 Loren joined two other die hard Charger fans to create Bolttalk, where Loren was a co-host and regular columnist from 2006 until the Chargers left in 2017. After that he started another podcast, The Grid Podshow, from 2020-2021 with his former co-host and colleague, speaking about the local sports community and popular culture.
When he’s not giving his opinion about San Diego sports, Loren is an adjunct professor at San Diego State and an attorney.