Higashioka (5 RBIs) heads Rangers' bottom-heavy attack

SAN DIEGO -- Kyle Higashioka knew the answer immediately when asked how many career stolen bases he has.

“Well … three now,” he said with a laugh.

Higashioka, whose 2025 sprint speed of 25.4 feet per second is slow even for a catcher, collected his third career stolen base on Saturday night to cap an electric game back in San Diego. Higashioka, the Rangers’ nine-hole hitter and a member of the Padres last year, collected five RBIs, including a two-run home run, in Texas’ 7-4 win at Petco Park.

His five RBIs tie his season high, also done on June 10 at Minnesota. No other Rangers batter has had more than four RBIs in a game this year.

“RBIs are always a product of teammates getting on base,” said Higashioka, whose career high of six in a game came June 26 last season against Washington. “[Jake] Burger had a ton of great at-bats in front of me. He was on base a ton. Wyatt [Langford] was busting down the line for the sac fly that was maybe not so deep. That was huge. A lot of it is just the guys around you.”

Higashioka’s homer in the third inning went right into the “Higgy Bank” -- an area near the left-field stands at Petco Park where he hit many of his homers while with the Padres.

"Doesn't surprise me,” said Padres manager Mike Shildt. “We've seen him. He's very well liked and respected in our clubhouse. It's hard to see him on the other side. I know he was only here for a year, but he created a lot of really good bonds and he's just a quality guy and a quality player. He's always performed well here. ... He hurt us tonight."

Higashioka had a serviceable slash line of .254/.279/.390 through the end of April before landing on the injured list with a left intercostal strain on May 1. After his return on May 13, he struggled to a .188/.278/.225 line across 27 games before Saturday’s breakthrough.

Rangers manager Bruce Bochy said Higashioka has been coming to the field early to try to get himself back on track and help the team.

“What a game,” Bochy said. “He's had some really good games here for them, and I'm sure you know he wanted to play well here. He's had a really nice career. You look at last year, what he did, and I see the bat just getting better and better with him. So I was really, really happy for him. I think it's impressive. He stole a base, too. So a great night for him.”

For the Rangers, nothing could be better than the bottom of the lineup contributing like it did on Saturday. It has been said a lot this season that as Corey Seager and Marcus Semien go, the offense goes. That makes sense for any team’s best two hitters.

But there’s something to be said for when the bottom of the order can come through in big situations.

That’s what happened on Saturday, when the bottom four hitters in the Rangers’ lineup contributed to all but one of the runs in Texas’ win. Wyatt Langford (freshly off the injured list), Jonah Heim, Jake Burger and Higashioka combined for seven hits and five runs.

Josh Smith provided the production from the top of the lineup when he launched a homer on the first pitch of the game.

“There's going to be games where the heart of your order may not have their best day,” Bochy said. “I keep saying we need contributions from everybody. That's how you win games. Those guys did a great job. We feel like with Langford back now, the lineup is lengthened out. I feel like we're going to keep getting production throughout the order.”