UPDATE: Chicago White Sox starter Martín Pérez delivered an impressive performance Wednesday, pitching into the sixth inning in a 1-0 loss to the Atlanta Braves at Truist Park. The game, attended by 30,054 fans, showcased a stark contrast to the high-scoring action in the first two matchups of the series, with both teams combining for just four hits.
Pérez, who recently returned from the 60-day injured list, allowed only one unearned run on three hits over 5 1/3 innings. “I was in my rhythm again and attacking from the first pitch,” Pérez stated. He further emphasized his focus and competitive spirit, saying, “When I’ve got the baseball in my hands, I just want to go out there and compete.”
The Braves’ only run came in the fourth inning when Marcell Ozuna scored following an error by White Sox shortstop Colson Montgomery. Despite the loss, Pérez struck out five batters and did not issue a walk in his 74-pitch outing. “Martín was outstanding, (had) command of all of his stuff,” said White Sox manager Will Venable.
In stark contrast to earlier games in the series where the Sox scored 13 and 10 runs in two respective outings, this matchup was defined by strong pitching. Braves starter Hurston Waldrep dazzled with seven scoreless innings, striking out seven batters. “Waldrep, really good (splitter), (we) knew that coming in,” Venable acknowledged.
Pérez’s return marks a significant milestone for the White Sox, who have struggled recently, finishing the trip against the Kansas City Royals and Braves with a 1-5 record. “We’ve got five more weeks left and I think we have to finish strong,” Pérez asserted, aiming to maintain his momentum.
Venable noted the team’s improvement, stating, “We came into this series not playing very good baseball and I thought we got back to being where we were at coming out of the break.” The White Sox now look to build on Pérez’s encouraging performance as they prepare for their next challenges.
Fans and analysts alike are eager to see how Pérez continues to perform as he settles back into his role. “Today was one of those days and I feel great. Hopefully we can continue to do the job,” he said, leaving a sense of optimism for the remainder of the season.
As the White Sox regroup and refocus, all eyes will be on their next game as they aim to leverage Pérez’s strong outing into a winning streak. Stay tuned for further updates on this developing story.