Kyle Higashioka pushes Padres past Braves and into NLDS

SAN DIEGO – Kyle Higashioka's solo home run with two outs in the second inning started a five-run rally against a battered Max Fried, and the San Diego Padres defeated the Atlanta Braves with a 5-4 victory in Game 2 of their NL Wild Card Series on Wednesday evenings.

Manny Machado added a two-run double with the bases loaded and Jackson Merrill, a top contender for NL Rookie of the Year, followed with a two-run triple as the sellout crowd of 47,705 – the largest in Petco Park history – cheered.

The Padres, who would like to win a World Series title in memory of late owner Peter Seidler, head to Interstate 5 for a National League Division Series starting Saturday night against Shohei Ohtani and NL West rival and top-seeded Los Angeles Dodgers compete at Dodger Stadium.

San Diego eliminated the Dodgers with 111 wins in a 2022 NLDS.

Robert Suarez parried the ball with a perfect ninth shot. As soon as Higashioka caught pinch-hitter Travis d'Arnaud's foul pop for the final out – the catcher had to step over first baseman Donovan Solano, who did – the crowd began chanting “Beat LA!”

“This team has always demonstrated the ability to be resilient and never give up,” Higashioka said. “This is a credit to all the boys. I just put together good bats no matter what.”

Fried and Padres starter Joe Musgrove left early due to injury. Fried walked after the second inning. Two batters into his outing, he was hit in the left hip by a ball from Fernando Tatis Jr.'s bat. Musgrove left with right elbow tightness and two outs in the fourth after throwing two slow curveballs to Matt Olson.

Padres manager Mike Shildt had no update on Musgrove other than to say it was the same area of ​​the elbow that sidelined the big right-hander earlier this season.

“Luckily we had the lead,” said Schildt. “His exit with two outs in the fourth was a challenge, but we found solutions and the bullpen was rested and did its part to bring it home.”

After the Padres took a 5-1 lead in the second, Jorge Soler hit a solo home run in the fifth and Michael Harris II had a two-run pitch in the eighth.

Fried, who took the loss, got out of a bases jam in the first game. He then allowed five runs on six straight hits and two outs in the second.

“The longer he was out there, the worse he got,” Braves manager Brian Snitker said.

Dylan Lee started the third game for Atlanta.

Musgrove threw two slow pitches and fell behind Olson, 2-1, with two outs in the fourth and was visited by pitching coach Ruben Niebla. Shildt and a physical trainer joined them, and Musgrove came out.

Musgrove, who grew up in suburban El Cajon, was on the injured list twice this season because of right elbow inflammation, which cost him a total of 63 games.

During his second assignment he had to take a break for two and a half months.

“It would be irresponsible to get too involved in this,” Shildt said. “He said he would do everything he could – I didn’t do anything to Joe Musgrove – to get back.

“Something in his elbow just didn’t feel right. Structurally, they think it’s fine, but we’ll get more reviews over time.”

Higashioka became the first Padres catcher to hit a home run in consecutive playoff games. He scored a solo shot in Tuesday night's 4-0 win.

He also hit a home run for the New York Yankees at Petco Park in the 2020 AL Playoff Bubble against Tampa Bay in a Division Series game.

He was acquired along with right-hander Michael King in the blockbuster trade that sent Juan Soto to the Yankees on December 7.

Higashioka began the season as a backup but eventually became the starter.

Musgrove fell behind 1-0 after just three batters. Marcell Ozuna's sacrifice fly brought in Harris, who hit a double into the right field corner on Musgrove's first pitch and advanced on Ozzie Albies' groundout.

After No. 9 hitter Higashioka's home run, singles from NL batting champion Luis Arraez, Tatis and Jurickson Profar loaded the bases. Machado scored two runs with his double to left and Merrill scored a triple to center.

Soler shot straight down the middle and headed the fifth round past substitute Bryan Hoeing, securing the win. Harris hit a home run off Jason Adam, but the struggling Braves couldn't quite come back.

“I’m more proud of a team than I’ve ever been,” Snitker said. “We won 89 games. It's amazing what they've done. We had a chance. We got into the tournament. If we get a goal here or there, we might play tomorrow. But we’re not.”