SAN DIEGO — — Kyle Higashioka caught two baserunners stealing and homered in the same inning to help Joe Musgrove and the San Diego Padres beat the St. Louis Cardinals 3-2 on Wednesday and avoid a three-game sweep.
Batting with one out in the bottom of the inning, Higashioka took three straight balls to run the count full against left-hander Zack Thompson (0-2) and then drove a 90-mph fastball into the seats in left.
Musgrove (1-1) held the Cardinals to one run and five hits in six innings, with seven strikeouts and one walk.
The Cardinals had two runners on base with two out in the top of the ninth, but Victor Scott II struck out to end the game.
Thompson worked five innings, allowed three runs on five hits, striking out five and walking four.
RHP Lance Lynn (0-0) is scheduled to start the home opener Thursday against the Miami Marlins and LHP Ryan Weathers (0-1, 6.75), 1:35 with the extended pregame and the first pitch at 3:15 on KIRX.