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  Friday, Jun. 23 7:40pm ET
Rocker rebounds, saves Braves' win
 
  RECAP | BOX SCORE | GAME LOG

ATLANTA (AP) -- For the first time since March, John Rocker pitched a game free of pain.

John Rocker
John Rocker struck out the side in the ninth.

The controversial closer bounced back from an awful outing to strike out the side in the ninth inning, preserving the Atlanta Braves' 3-2 win over the Milwaukee Brewers on Friday night.

A small abrasion on his left thumb is still bothering Rocker.

"Tonight was actually the first night it hadn't bled since spring training," Rocker said after recording his second save since May 18, his 12th in 13 chances this season. "So maybe I can go ahead and get past that. I'll go two or three days without picking a ball up, just trying to get my thumb well.

On Wednesday, the controversial reliever gave up five runs, four walks and one hit in one-third of an inning against the Chicago Cubs. Since then, working with pitching coach Leo Mazzone, Rocker discovered he was overcompensating by putting too much weight on his front side. That, in turn, forced him into an awkward hip turn.

He also treated the cut with silver nitrate to try and make the wound brittle.

"If you don't have that little extra touch, it's kind of hard to hit a corner on 3-2 with a 97-mph fastball," Rocker said.

He relieved to start the ninth and struck out James Mouton leading off, then walked Jose Hernandez, Rocker's 31st walk in 21 innings. He then fanned Henry Blanco and Lyle Mouton, raising his season strikeout total to 33. He only threw one first-pitch strike, against James Mouton.

"Tonight I felt just like I did last year," said Rocker, who saved 38 games in 1999, one shy of the club record. "That's probably the first time I've felt like that since like late April."

Andres Galarraga hit his 18th homer and an RBI double to back John Burkett, who left after six innings with a 2-1 lead. But Jason Marquis (1-0) allowed Marquis Grissom's homer leading off the eighth.

Quilvio Veras' sacrifice fly in the eighth off David Weathers (3-3) drove in the go-ahead run. Wally Joyner led off with a double, Bobby Bonilla walked, pinch-runner Trenidad Hubbard advanced to third on a throwing error by catcher Henry Blanco and scored on Veras' fly.

Burkett allowed five hits, taking a shutout into the sixth before Charlie Hayes' RBI single.

"I feel good about the way I'm throwing the ball," said Burkett, who has pitched at least six innings in seven of his last eight starts. "I just got into a control problem the last few innings."

Atlanta won consecutive games for the first time since June 9-10 against Boston. With a record of 10-12 in June, Atlanta is seeking to avoid its first losing month since September 1996.

Rocker has been the subject of controversy since December, when Sports Illustrated published disparaging remarks he made regarding several minority groups and his own teammates.

He began the season by serving a 14-day suspension and returned to the Braves on April 18. After pitching badly and confronting the reporter who wrote the SI article, he was sent to the minors, then recalled June 14.

Rocker declined to discuss recent comments he made in Baseball Weekly regarding his plans to ride the subway when the Braves visit the New York Mets for a four-game series beginning Thursday.

He became irritated when a reporter asked if the Braves or the commissioner's office wanted him to take a low-profile approach in New York.

"See, that's why I don't like to do interviews, because of questions like that," Rocker said. "Next question."

Milwaukee starter Jason Bere, making his first career appearance against Atlanta, gave up two runs and three hits in six innings and struck out five.

Game notes
Bere has surrendered at least one homer in 10 of his last 12 starts. ... The Braves improved to 15-2 when Galarraga homers. ... Milwaukee dropped to 3-7 at Turner Field and 6-17 against Atlanta. ... The Brewers are 11-18 against the NL East this season.
 


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Cutting into his control? Thumb abrasion bothering Rocker


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AUDIO/VIDEO
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 It has been a month of adjustments for a struggling John Rocker.
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 Pitching coach Leo Mazzone is hoping the strong performances continues for Rocker.
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