Martín Pérez Explains Shaky Outing In Loss to Phillies

The Atlanta Braves didn't see the outing they expected out of Martín Pérez on Saturday against the Philadelphia Phillies when the veteran left-hander gave up seven hits, four earned runs and four walks through only 3.2 innings pitched.

As a result, the Braves suffered a 4-2 loss, falling to 84-58 overall and evening the series with two games remaining.

Following the matchup, Pérez shared that the team gave him an extra two days of rest leading up to last night's start which he believes messed up his groove on the mound.

"I think it’s just because I’ve been waiting for seven days, and there is nothing I can do about it because that’s the plan," Pérez said, according to MLB.com. "But I think it takes too much time for me to [not] be on the mound to face hitters. I know my next one is going to be in five days."

Still, there could possibly be another underlying cause behind Pérez's rough showing as the 35-year-old started on additional rest before.

The Phillies attacked Pérez early in the first as Luis Arráez drove in Kyle Schwarber with a one-run single while Trea Turner scored on a bases-loaded walk that extended the lead to 2-0.

Philadelphia's utilization of small ball tactics paid off once again in the second as Derek Hill reached home off a groundout by Schwarber. 

Ronald Acuña Jr. spoiled the shutout in the third with a solo homer to left-center field, but Schwarber answered right back in the fourth with a one-run shot of his own to help the Phillies pull away.

Austin Riley brought the game within two in the seventh with a solo blast to left-center field while Drake Baldwin tried to start an eighth-inning rally with a single.

Still, Philadelphia slammed the door shut in the ninth when closer Jhoan Durán retired three-straight batters, recording his 30th save of the season.

With the loss, Pérez has gone 8-9 overall while posting a 3.25 ERA, 1.27 WHIP and 94 strikeouts across 124.2 innings of work.

Nonetheless, he will get an opportunity to bounce back next Thursday on a normal five days of rest as fellow starter Reynaldo López is set to be activated from the injured list early in the week.

Pérez has also continued to be a key clubhouse presence whenever he is not on the mound throwing for strikes, further justifying the one-year, $3.5 million contract he signed to join the organization before the start of this season.

In the meantime, the Braves will have their sights set on securing the series win over the next couple days as right-hander Grant Holmes is penciled in to toe the rubber in Monday's finale against Jesús Luzardo.