"If you don't play hard just because you missed the main game, that's not polite to baseball." Veteran catcher Higashioka's cry
"If you don't play hard just because you missed the main game, that's not polite to baseball." Veteran catcher Higashioka's cry
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Rankings for the postseason have already been determined. Some of the main players are also missing. The result was meaningless.
Still, San Diego Padres catcher Kyle Higashioka (34) said why he should play hard.
Higashioka said in an interview after beating the Arizona Diamondbacks 5-0 at Chase Field on the 29th (Korea Standard Time), "I don't think it's polite to go out and play hard under any circumstances."
On the same day, San Diego excluded Luis Arraez, the No. 1 hitter in the National League, Jackson Merrill, and Fernando Tatis Jr. from the starting lineup.
It was a game of lackluster performance, but the game was won nonetheless. It was the result of three home runs starting with Higashioka's two-run homer in the ninth inning.
Coach Mike Shildt expressed his faith in the players, saying, "Our team will go out and fight to win no matter who we use."
Higashioka, who started as No. 7 catcher on the day, repaid his belief. "I think it's a very bad habit not to go to the game and do your best just because a few of the main players in the lineup are out of the game today. I also thought it was important to keep trying to play good at-bats ahead of the postseason," he said.
He also said, "Many Padres fans came to the stadium today. These are people who paid to watch us play. It is shameful to show them that they do not make an effort," stressing the need to do their best in any situation even considering the fans. 안전놀이터
"The opponent's bullpen pitched really well the day before. But I think I saw a lot of balls," he said. "Today, Molly came in for a ball. The slider went in for a real pitch and luckily I noticed it, and luckily the ball went over the fence," he said of the situation.
After moving from the New York Yankees to the San Diego Padres in exchange for Juan Soto trade last winter, he said, "This is the year I am doing the best in terms of offense. But at the same time, every season I think I have the opportunity to learn to be a better hitter," adding, "I am striving to be a better hitter every season."
On the mound, starter Randy Vazquez pitched six innings of one hit, one walk, and four strikeouts.
Receiving his credit, Higashioka praised his teammate, saying, "He has shown good pitching at a critical juncture this season. He played a big role when other players were unable to come out due to injury."
"I was waiting for my pitching every day, honing my pitching. I'm grateful to the team for giving me the opportunity today," he said, while waiting at the team's training facility in Peoria, Arizona after the end of Triple-A season. "I was ready to throw whenever I called."
Brandon Lockridge hit his first homer since his Major League debut in the ninth inning. Standing in front of reporters looking excited even after the game, he said, "I can't believe it. As I was running around the base, I couldn't believe it. It is definitely the highlight of my career," expressing how he felt about hitting his first homer.