APPROVED DEAL: The Padres have formally acknowledged that their best-ever veteran catcher has signed a $125 million, six-year contract to join the New York Yankees.

Padres’ catcher enjoys a memorable 4th inning

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.

According to Elias Sports Bureau, Higashioka became the sixth catcher since 1961 to catch multiple runners stealing and hit a home run in the same inning. The others were Sammy Taylor of the Chicago Cubs in 1961, Johnny Romano

of the Chicago White Sox in 1966, Ted Simmons of the Cardinals in 1975, Joe Ferguson of the Houston Astros in 1977 and Bengie Molina of the Anaheim Angels in 2000.

“I just try to do what’s presented to me in the moment, so I feel like the throwing out the guys is kind of my job where the homer is a little bit of a bonus,” the backup catcher said. “They both feel good.”

Higashioka was one of five players obtained from the New York Yankees on Dec. 6 for Juan Soto and Trent Grisham. He was making just his second start of the season.

He threw out Brendan Donovan trying to steal second base during a strike-em-out-throw-em-out double play in the fourth. After Willson Contreras doubled and Nolan Arenado singled, Higashioka threw out Arenado trying to steal second, which was upheld on review.

The only other time he threw out two baserunners was on July 9, 2022, at Boston while with the Yankees.

“It’s cool,” he said. “Two guys have to go in one inning so you’re never in control of that. It just happened.”

Manager Mike Shildt had pretty much the same reaction: “I don’t know exactly the history behind it but there aren’t many guys who have thrown out two baserunners and homered in the same inning, so that’s pretty cool.”

Batting with one out in the bottom of the inning, Higashioka took three consecutive 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. It was his first home run since Aug. 29 at Detroit.

Musgrove (1-1) held the Cardinals to one run and five hits in six innings, with seven strikeouts and one walk.