Kyle Higashioka leads Rangers to a breakthrough against Mariners pitcher George Kirby
A regular thorn in the Rangers' side, Kirby was undefeated in his previous 10 starts against Texas before Tuesday.
Texas Rangers' Kyle Higashioka (11) celebrates with Josh Smith, right, and Evan Carter, rear, after hitting a two-run home run in the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Seattle Mariners Tuesday, April 7, 2026, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez) (Tony Gutierrez/AP) ARLINGTON — In the case of Mariners right-hander George Kirby, who threw all of six balls through his first four innings and appeared dialed in even for his supreme standards, Rangers catcher Kyle Higashioka said that “you’ve got to try and hit those guys out of the game. ” Then he paused.
“Technically,” Higashioka said, “he threw a complete game. ” Technically, he did, though the Rangers strung together enough timely hits to break through against Kirby in a 3-2 series-clinching win at Globe Life Field Tuesday night. Higashioka hit a go-ahead two-run home run off a middle-middle sinker in the bottom of the fifth inning to snap what had been a dominant run from a pitcher who’s only ever stymied the Rangers in his five-year career.
WHOLE NEW BALLGAME 👀😱🔁 Rangers' quick rally is punctuated by Kyle Higashioka's two-run blast to give Texas a 3-2 lead. (Via @Rangers | #AllForTX ) pic. twitter.
com/7S9YmyLRbK — SportsDay Rangers (@dmn_rangers) April 8, 2026 “That was probably one of the only good pitches to hit he’s given me in all of the times I’ve faced him,” Higashioka said. “I ended up putting a good swing on it and it snuck over the fence. ” It’s not like he throws many hittable pitches to any of Higashioka’s teammates either.