BOSTON --- Martin Perez saved his best Summer Camp start for last.
That was welcome news for the Red Sox on a steamy Monday night at Fenway Park. The left-hander turned in six scoreless innings while wrapping up his final appearance before the regular season begins this weekend.
Perez scattered four hits and struck out seven against no walks. Reaching that level of sharpness again Saturday when the Orioles come to town will be the goal.
"I found the rhythm on [...]
BOSTON --- Martin Perez saved his best Summer Camp start for last.
That was welcome news for the Red Sox on a steamy Monday night at Fenway Park. The left-hander turned in six scoreless innings while wrapping up his final appearance before the regular season begins this weekend.
Perez scattered four hits and struck out seven against no walks. Reaching that level of sharpness again Saturday when the Orioles come to town will be the goal.
"I found the rhythm on all my pitches and my delivery, too," Perez said after exiting what wound up a 5-0 shutout for his home team. "I enjoyed it, the six innings that I threw. I think it’s time to compete."
Jarren Duran doubled twice, knocked in a pair and scored a run in his first Fenway appearance of camp. Juan Centeno reached safely in each of his first three trips and Jonathan Arauz lined a solo home run into the Monster Seats. That was more than enough offense for Perez and two relievers to secure the win.
"It was nice to see him do that," Red Sox manager Ron Roenicke said. "He felt good about it, so good way for him to finish there before he starts the season."
Perez allowed a two-out single in the second, a bloop double to lead off the fourth and a pair of singles in the fifth. None of those runners reached third base, as C.J. Chatham was caught stealing to snuff out the best chance enjoyed by the visitors against Perez. He recorded a third 1-2-3 inning in the sixth to close out a strong effort.
"I feel 100% and I believe in my stuff again," Perez said. "I’m healthy – that’s important too. Saturday, just go out there and enjoy it and win games."
Duran made the most of the short drive from the club’s alternate camp site at McCoy Stadium in Pawtucket. He smoked a two-run double off the center field wall in the second and added another two-base hit on a liner to deep left in the fifth. Duran also made a pair of fine catches in center field, with the second one taking extra bases away from Marco Hernandez in the sixth.
"How do you do that?" Roenicke said. "You sit out for three and a half months and then you come back right where you left off. He’s an exciting player."
Duran worked out of an 0-and-2 hole to set up his first double and attacked early in the count on his second. He closed 2-for-4 and somehow never looked out of place despite logging just a pair of light weekend workouts at McCoy Stadium.
"I’ve missed baseball so much," Duran said. "I’m just happy to be here. It was an honor that they asked me to come play today. Just an intrasquad, but it means a lot to me they asked me to come play for them. I was just enjoying it."
It was a tough outing for Jeffrey Springs, who recorded just 10 outs over his four innings of work. The left-hander had his second and fourth frames cut short due to his loss of command, as he threw 27 balls against just 23 strikes. Springs finished with three walks and surrendered three earned runs.
Heath Hembree preserved the shutout by escaping a serious jam in the eighth. Three singles loaded the bases with nobody out before Hembree fanned Josh Ockimey and induced Marco Hernandez to ground into a 4-6-3 double play. Hembree returned for the ninth and recorded a stress-free 1-2-3 frame.
bkoch@providencejournal.com
(401) 277-7054
On Twitter: @BillKoch25