ARLINGTON, Texas — In a 2-1 victory over the Chicago White Sox, rookie Kumar Rocker of the Texas Rangers managed to maintain a scoreless start despite a challenging fifth inning that saw him consume three small bottles of pickle juice to combat leg cramps. The unusual hydration tactic even led to a mound visit being credited to a ball boy, adding an unexpected twist to the game.
The 25-year-old right-hander, feeling the effects of dehydration, addressed the issue by drinking two bottles of the briny liquid in the dugout before taking the win. “I think he set a record for the amount of pickle juice he drank today,” joked Texas manager Bruce Bochy.
During the fifth inning, after Rocker struck out Michael A. Taylor, Team trainer, Bochy, and pitching coach Mike Maddux gathered at the mound. While they conversed, first baseman Jake Burger retrieved two more small bottles of pickle juice from the dugout and delivered them to the mound.
Rocker quickly consumed both bottles, did some leg stretches, and threw several warmup pitches, punctuated by further interaction with the trainer. He continued to pitch, allowing a single to Josh Rojas. As Mike Tauchman approached the plate, another bottle of pickle juice was delivered to Rocker by a ball boy, a move that led to a charge for an additional mound visit, following a discussion among the umpires.
Reflecting on the incident, Rocker remarked, “When he came out there, I said, ‘Oh no.’ That was a good one. That was a different one.”
Despite the interruption, Rocker smoothly retired Tauchman on a grounder to Burger, then concluded the inning with Chase Meidroth’s groundout after yet another trainer visit.
Rocker completed five innings, poised to become the winning pitcher, and was relieved by Jacob Webb at the start of the sixth, with the Rangers leading 2-0. “I drank everything today,” Rocker laughingly commented after his performance, allowing four singles and a walk while striking out six.
Webb conceded a solo homer to Miguel Vargas but, aided by two additional Texas relievers, managed to hold the White Sox scoreless through the remaining 3 2/3 innings, with Luke Jackson securing his ninth save.
Initially recalled from Triple-A Round Rock to fill in for Tyler Mahle, who was sidelined by right shoulder fatigue, Rocker seized the opportunity to return to the major league stage. A stint on the injured list for a right shoulder impingement and developmental time in the minors set the stage for Rocker’s early return to the majors in light of Mahle’s ailment.
Rocker’s performance in this game likely secured him more opportunities on the mound, provided he can manage his hydration. “It’s a great opportunity,” Rocker expressed. “To help these guys, you’ve got to be a winning player. And just one day at a time, that’s all you can do. It’s been a fun week.”
This summary has been updated to correctly identify that Jacob Webb, not Chris Martin, replaced Kumar Rocker.