Rocker Is Recalled by Braves

John Rocker was recalled from the minors late Tuesday night, and while the may not be good news to everyone, it is for the Atlanta Braves.

They need Rocker.

Without their controversial reliever Tuesday night at Pittsburgh, the Braves gave up three runs in the ninth and Wil Cordero’s leadoff homer in the 10th inning and lost to the Pittsburgh Pirates, 7-6.

Rocker, sent down to triple-A Richmond last week to work on his control both on and off the field, was recalled after the game because of an arm injury to Rudy Seanez.

The day before he was demoted, Rocker threatened the Sports Illustrated reporter who wrote the story about the reliever’s views on foreigners, gays and minorities.

Tuesday night, Rocker had the least impressive of his three one-inning stints for Richmond. He gave up two singles to start the inning before getting a fly out.

It was the first out he recorded that wasn’t a strikeout since he joined Richmond last Thursday. The second out, a fly ball, allowed a run to score. A groundout ended the inning.

Rocker got the news he was going back up after the game.

Rocker thanked the Richmond Braves for having him and helping him during a six-day stay, his first in the minors since he pitched here early in the 1998 season.

The Richmond locker room was closed after the game and Rocker was unavailable.

In Pittsburgh, it was a rough day for the Braves’ bullpen, as Seanez left with tightness in his right arm and headed back to Atlanta for tests, Mike Remlinger blew his first save of the season, and Don Wengert (0-1) allowed the game-winning homer.

“Rem threw good,” Manager Bobby Cox said. “He just made one bad pitch. He had the guy 0-2 and he got the ball in a bad spot.”

Jose Silva (5-2) pitched the 10th for the win.