BRADENTON, Fla. -- Martin Perez made quite the impression in his first outing in a Pirates uniform Sunday afternoon.
Facing the Orioles in his spring debut, Perez allowed one run on one hit with three strikeouts in three innings of work. He threw 24 of his 31 pitches for strikes in a 5-2 loss at LECOM Park.
“That's what (you want) coming into this game. Throw strikes, make sure you locate pitches and move the ball, and I think for the first time in six, seven months, it's really nice,” Perez said. “I feel great and I think I'm going to get better, working on a couple things. Today, what I see, what I feel, is great. I'm going to feel fine for opening day.”
On the SportsNet Pittsburgh broadcast, Oscar Marin said Perez needed some extra time and a few live batting practice sessions before making his first start.
“He goes, ‘I’ll be ready,’” Marin said. “He sure was ready today.”
Derek Shelton said Perez, who is expected to play a key role within the starting rotation, was sharp in an outing that included no walks and one run surrendered on a Colton Cowser home run in the third inning.
“Execution of all the pitches was about as good as you could expect for the first time out,” Shelton said. “That was really encouraging.”
Perez relied heavily on his cutter and changeup, turning to those particular pitches 12 and 11 times, respectively.
“I’ve just got to be on top of the ball and everything's going to work,” Perez said. “Everything was good. Location was good. I know people may be asking about velocity, but I don't worry about that. I'm here to pitch. I'm not here to throw 100. I feel great with the results today.”
During that third-inning at-bat against Cowser, Perez got ahead in the count by getting a called strike on a curveball and forcing a foul ball on an inside sinker. He left an 0-2 cutter higher than Jason Delay wanted it and Cowser sent it over the right-field fence to tie the game at 1-1.
“I think the homer was a bad pitch. That pitch doesn't move the way I wanted,” Perez said. “You come here in these games and throw everything you have to see what's moving, what's not. Next outing's going to be better with that pitch. Working on it and moving on.”
Having confidence on the mound is something that’s important for Perez, especially after last year when July struggles (8.50 ERA in four starts), coupled with the acquisitions of Max Scherzer and Jordan Montgomery, forced a move into the Rangers' bullpen.
Perez made 35 appearances and 20 starts in Texas last year, sporting a 10-4 record with a 4.45 ERA and a 1.40 WHIP. He posted 93 strikeouts and 49 walks in 141 2/3 innings. He’s two years removed from a 2022 showing in which he made 32 starts and compiled a 2.89 ERA with a 1.26 WHIP. He totaled a career-high 169 strikeouts and 69 walks in 196 1/3 innings.
“I was talking to Oscar during the game and I told him the confidence I have now is big. That’s one thing I was trying to get back, and I think I have it right now,” Perez said. “When you feel that way, it means you’re gonna go out there and perform. I know every time is not going to be a good game, but that’s what you’re looking for, (having) good games, trying to go deep and giving your team a chance to win as many games as you can.”
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