Kumar Rocker and His Unusual Game with the Rangers
In an incident-filled encounter, Texas Rangers rookie Kumar Rocker maintained his scoreless start for five innings. The most striking situation occurred in the fifth inning, where the pitcher consumed three small bottles of pickle juice.
The 25-year-old right-handed pitcher apparently suffered cramps after striking out Michael A. Taylor, outfielder for the Chicago White Sox, for the first out of the fifth inning. This prompted a visit from the trainer, along with manager Bruce Bochy and pitching coach Mike Maddux.
During the approximately five minutes that the staff and infielders were on the mound, first baseman Jake Burger went to the dugout and brought two small bottles of pickle juice.
Rocker quickly drank both bottles, stretched his legs, and performed several warm-up throws, with another pause in between for another conversation with the coach.
Rocker remained in the game and allowed a single to Josh Rojas. With Mike Tauchman at the plate, a ball boy ran to the mound with a third bottle of pickle juice, which Rocker immediately consumed and returned.
The home plate umpire, Marvin Hudson, met with the other three umpires and ruled that the Rangers should be charged with a mound visit for the ball boy’s action.
Rocker retired Tauchman with a grounder to Burger, and after another visit from the coach to the mound, he got out of the inning with a grounder by Chase Meidroth.
Surpassing the fifth inning gave Rocker the opportunity to be the winning pitcher. The Rangers were leading 2-0 when Rocker was replaced by Chris Martin at the start of the sixth. Martin allowed a solo home run to Miguel Vargas.
Rocker started in place of right-hander Tyler Mahle the same day Mahle was placed on the injured list with right shoulder fatigue.
Rocker allowed four singles and a walk in five innings. He struck out six batters.
