ARLINGTON — When asked how to get back on track after Monday night’s blowout loss to the White Sox, manager Skip Schumaker made it seem pretty simple.
“Win a game,” he said. “That’s how you get back on track. Tomorrow Kumar Rocker going. It’s going to be important for him to get off a good start to keep us in the game. It always starts with starting pitching.”
Sure, it’s maybe not quite that simple. But Rocker did exactly that.
The Rangers’ right-hander tossed six scoreless innings in their 10-0 win over the White Sox on Tuesday night, looking effective and efficient from the outset. He allowed just one hit, a leadoff single from Munetaka Murakami in the fourth inning. He walked two, but no Chicago hitter even made it into scoring position.
With the Rangers up, 10-0, Rocker’s day ended at just 75 pitches and six innings. But it may have been the best 75 he’s thrown this season
And Rocker’s quality start couldn’t have come at a better moment either. In the first four games out of the All-Star break, Jacob deGrom, Nathan Eovaldi, MacKenzie Gore and Cal Quantrill allowed a combined 20 runs with the Rangers dropping three of those contests.
Rocker played the role of the stopper, putting the Rangers in a position to win and allowing the offense to continue adding on all night long.
