ARLINGTON, Texas — In an impressive performance, rookie right-hander Kumar Rocker led the Texas Rangers to a narrow 2-1 victory over the Chicago White Sox, completing a series sweep on Sunday. The win was not without challenges for Rocker, who faced leg cramps during the fifth inning. In response, the young pitcher resorted to an unconventional remedy, downing three bottles of pickle juice to aid his recovery before completing the inning. Throughout his five scoreless innings, Rocker allowed just four hits and a walk while striking out six batters.
On the opposing side, Chicago’s Aaron Civale faced difficulties in his debut following his trade from Milwaukee. Civale, now with a 1-3 record, struggled early on by permitting two runs after issuing four walks to the first seven Texas hitters. Having expressed a desire to remain a starter whether with the Brewers or another team, Civale’s transition to the White Sox bullpen wasn’t seamless.
Texas gained its initial lead in the second inning through a run-scoring double by Ezequiel Duran, with Marcus Semien extending the advantage to 2-0 in the fifth via a sacrifice fly. Despite Miguel Vargas hitting his leading tenth home run for the White Sox, Chicago couldn’t break a losing streak against the Rangers at Texas, which now totals ten consecutive defeats.
Rangers’ closer Luke Jackson was flawless in the ninth inning, securing his ninth save of the season, and notably his first since April 25, reinforcing the Rangers’ victory. A pivotal moment arose in the seventh inning when Chicago’s Josh Rojas attempted to steal second base with runners on the corners and one out. However, he was thrown out, and Ryan Noda held his position at third, declining to advance. This defensive play led to Mike Tauchman’s strikeout, concluding the inning.
Highlighting the team’s resurgence, Texas has now won seven out of their last eight games, bringing the Rangers back to a .500 record, a milestone they hadn’t reached since May 21. Looking ahead, both teams will have a day off before their next series on Tuesday. The White Sox will send rookie right-hander Shane Smith, with a 3-3 record and 2.37 ERA, to face the St. Louis Cardinals. Meanwhile, the Rangers will pit right-hander Jack Leiter, boasting a 4-3 record and 3.88 ERA, against the Kansas City Royals.