Martin Perez Continues Solid Start to Atlanta Braves Tenure on Saturday
The Braves lost 6-0 to the Cleveland Guardians, but the veteran pitcher did his job.
Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Martin Perez signed a minor league contract with the club in January, but he's showing why he deserves to be at the top level. The 35-year-old allowed one run on two hits over five innings in Saturday's 6-0 loss to the Cleveland Guardians, and he now has a 3. 14 ERA over three outings (two starts) this year.
Perez earned the loss despite his solid outing, as the Braves were held to no runs on five hits. The southpaw gave up a solo homer to Jose Ramirez in the top of the first, and that was the only run the Guardians needed to win the game. Perez got into a two-out, bases-loaded jam in the second, but he got Steven Kwan to ground out to second on a 90-mile-per-hour sinker.
The native Venezuelan then retired the next nine hitters to end his outing. Martin Perez Could Stay With Big-League Club Atlanta Braves relief pitcher Martin Perez (33). © Brett Davis-Imagn Images Although Perez might not keep a rotation role for the entire season, he could work out of the bullpen too.
The 6-foot, 210-pounder threw 4. 1 shutout relief innings in Atlanta's 5-2 loss to the Athletics on March 31 before allowing four runs over five innings in his first start of the season on April 5. The Braves fell 6-5 in 10 innings.