Kumar Rocker makes his debut for Rangers throwing 4 innings with 7 Ks against Mariners

SEATTLE (AP) — Kumar Rocker's debut in the majors finally arrived. It was a mixed bag for his highly anticipated first outing.

Rocker threw four innings for the Texas Rangers on Thursday night in their series opener against the Seattle Mariners. It was the conclusion of a lengthy journey through the pro game for the one-time college phenom and the top pitching prospect in the Rangers organization.

With his parents watching from the stands, Rocker endured a shaky start, giving up a single to Victor Robles on the first pitch of his career and a dribbling single to Julio Rodriguez. But he escaped the first without damage getting strikeouts of Cal Raleigh and Randy Arozarena, and a flyout to the warning track from Luke Raley.

He eventually struck out seven, at times leaving Seattle hitters guessing. Rocker missed a chance to leave with the lead after giving up the first run of his career on Justin Turner’s solo homer in the fourth, but watched as his teammates came back from a three-run deficit to claim a 5-4 win over the Mariners.

Rocker was pulled after throwing 74 pitches. He allowed three hits and walked two to go along with the seven strikeouts.

“We got him where we wanted him, around 75 pitches, and he’s got to feel good about that start,” manager Bruce Bochy said. “I’m sure he was nervous out there, and then the first two guys get hits, and, you know, he’s got runners in scoring position, nobody out, and he made pitches when he had to. So it says a lot about him.”

After being a dominant star in college at Vanderbilt, Rocker was the 10th overall pick by the Mets in 2021 amateur draft and went unsigned due to medical concerns. Texas drafted him third overall in 2022 and he has recovered from Tommy John surgery in May 2023 to earn the promotion leading to Thursday’s debut.

"It’s been an incredible journey," Kumar Rocker's mother, Lu Rocker said on the Rangers TV broadcast. “And he’s just come out just fighting, putting his head down, and just working hard.”

Rocker smiled when talking about having his parents in the stands for his first start in the big leagues.

“(It means) a lot. I’ve been blessed,” Rocker said. “And I also play for them. Everything I do is for them, from college to here, just trying to make them proud.”

Texas general manager Chris Young said it was a “fun weekend” for the Rangers with Rocker's debut, followed by Jacob deGrom and Max Scherzer scheduled to start Friday and Saturday.

“Obviously we’re getting Max and Jacob back on subsequent days and then on top of that having our top draft pick from a couple of years ago make his debut. Someone who is not just making a September debut, someone who has really kind of flown through the minor leagues because of his performance who has now earned the opportunity to pitch in the big leagues,” Young said.

The 24-year-old Rocker has a 1.96 ERA in 10 games for three different Rangers affiliates since July 5. In his final two starts for Triple-A Round Rock, he had 18 strikeouts over 10 innings, and finished with 47 strikeouts and four walks in 29 2/3 innings over seven starts combined for Double-A Frisco and Round Rock.

“I'm excited. I'll say that. The fans should be. This is a big part of our future when you're looking at Kumar and Jack (Leiter) and young guys that come up,” Bochy said.

For Rocker, the key to bouncing back from his tough start to the game was to rely on his “favorites”— a sinker, and his wipeout slider that helped lead to 17 swings and misses from Seattle.

“That’s the beauty of that pitch,” Rocker said. “I'm glad I have it, glad I work on it, and things can be a little bit better once that (fastball) command comes back.”

Rocker's dad, Tracy, is the defensive line coach for the Tennessee Titans. Tracy Rocker left the team following practice on Thursday to fly to see his son make his first start.

“Forget being a coach. Now he’s the happiest parent, you know, one of the happiest parents in the world,” Titans defensive coordinator Dennard Wilson said. “And to be able to go to see your son throw out the first pitch in a Major League Baseball game and your son has gone through the adversity he has and went through the minors to get to this point? Man, it’s a hell of a feeling.”

While the journey to get to the big leagues was long and winding, Rocker’s parents never had a doubt he’d get here.

“At 2 years old, I told my husband he’s going to be a pitcher,” Lu Rocker said.

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

Texas Rangers starting pitcher Kumar Rocker, center, greets his father and Tennessee Titans defensive line coach Tracy Rocker, left, and mother Lalitha Rocker, right, after his major league debut in a 5-4 win over the Seattle Mariners in a baseball game Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

Texas Rangers starting pitcher Kumar Rocker, facing, greets his father and Tennessee Titans defensive line coach Tracy Rocker, after his major league debut in a 5-4 win over the Seattle Mariners in a baseball game Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

Texas Rangers starting pitcher Kumar Rocker throws against the Seattle Mariners in his major league debut during the first inning of a baseball game Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

Texas Rangers starting pitcher Kumar Rocker receives a new ball after striking out Seattle Mariners' Randy Arozarena during the first inning of a baseball game Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

Texas Rangers starting pitcher Kumar Rocker walks in the dugout after facing the Seattle Mariners during the third inning of a baseball game Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

Texas Rangers starting pitcher Kumar Rocker walks back to the dugout after facing the Seattle Mariners during the second inning of a baseball game Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

Texas Rangers starting pitcher Kumar Rocker throws against the Seattle Mariners during the second inning of a baseball game in his major league debut, Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

Texas Rangers starting pitcher Kumar Rocker sits in the dugout before facing the Seattle Mariners during the first inning of a baseball game Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

Texas Rangers starting pitcher Kumar Rocker warms up before his major league debut against the Seattle Mariners in a baseball game Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Kodai Senga knew something was off just before he took the mound in the National League Championship Series opener.

The New York Mets starter lasted just 10 batters and got only four outs, struggling with control as the Los Angeles Dodgers took a 3-0, second-inning lead on Sunday night.

“I tried to make some adjustments on the fly but obviously I wasn’t able to,” Senga said through an interpreter. “I’m just disappointed in myself that I wasn’t able to make adjustments.”

The Dodgers won 9-0. Game 2 is Monday afternoon.

The Japanese right-hander, making just his third start this year, walked four of his first eight batters, including three in a row in a 14-pitch span in the first inning. He threw strikes on three of his first 16 pitches and seven of 23 overall in the first inning.

“I think a lot of factors go into it but the biggest thing might be mechanical error,” Senga said. “Now I just need to reflect back on what happened and make adjustments so I can give a better outing next time.”

After the walks to Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman and Teoscar Hernández with one out in the first, Max Muncy hit a two-run single up the middle that scored Betts and a hobbling Freeman, who touched the plate with his left foot to protect his sprained right ankle.

Senga had a wild pitch in the first that allowed runners to move up and a pitch clock violation in the second. He was chased by countryman Shohei Ohtani, whose RBI single to right brought home Gavin Lux, who walked leading off.

“He didn’t have it,” rookie Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said. “He didn’t have the life on his fastball and a lot of balls out of hand, non-competitive pitches, especially the split. You could tell that the way that they were taking those pitches they were balls out of the hand.”

Senga gave up three runs and two hits while throwing 10 of 30 pitches for strikes. Reed Garrett relieved.

Senga started Game 1 of the NL Division Series against Philadelphia and lasted two innings and 31 pitches. Senga missed nearly the first four months of the season with a right shoulder capsule strain. He made his only regular-season start on July 26, then missed the rest of the regular season with a strained left calf and right triceps tightness.

Senga's fastball averaged 93.5 mph, down 2.3 mph from his season average. Mendoza said the team will see evaluate Senga responds in the next couple days.

“Day by day, and then we’ll see how we get to Game 5 or whatever the case might be,” he said. “But I think it’s going to come down to how he’s going to bounce back.”

Down 3-0, the Mets got singles from Jesse Winker and Jose Iglesias starting the fifth. Winker stopped between second and third, then continued toward third and was thrown out when center fielder Kiké Hernández threw to second baseman Gavin Lux, who relayed to third baseman Max Muncy.

“Off the bat I read first and third and then I kind of just got caught in no man’s land,” Winker said. “It was just a really bad, bad play by me. ... Obviously the baserunning play kind of kicked the wind out of a potential rally. I think that's what hurts the most."

Hernández's body weight went toward third as he swung his arm and threw to second, causing Winker to stop.

“Kiké’s heads-up kind of look -- body going towards third and then throw behind the runner -- just a heady baseball play,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said.

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB

New York Mets Kodai Senga prepares to pitch during the first inning of Game 1 of a baseball NL Division Series against the Philadelphia Phillies, Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

New York Mets pitcher Kodai Senga throws against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the first inning in Game 1 of a baseball NL Championship Series, Sunday, Oct. 13, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)