Perez struggles continue
PITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh Pirates don't seem to have any idea where pitcher Oliver Perez's career is going, much like Perez doesn't seem to know where his pitches are heading.
Pat Burrell drove in two runs with a home run and a popfly double to support Gavin Floyd, and the Philadelphia Phillies avoided a three-game weekend sweep by beating the Pirates and the erratic Perez 5-1 Sunday.
Floyd (2-2) gave up one run and five hits over 6 2-3 innings, taking a shutout into the sixth before Jack Wilson hit his fifth homer. Floyd walked five and was consistently behind in the count, but was helped out by two double plays.
"He was wild enough to be successful," Pirates manager Jim Tracy said. "There were any number of pitches in the hitter's zone."
No doubt part of Tracy's frustration came from the Pirates' 7-19 record in April, which includes losing streaks of six and seven games. Part of their problem has been Perez's inconsistency — the left-hander struggled again Sunday by giving up four runs and six hits in 3 2-3 innings, raising his ERA to 7.53.
"It was not good at all," Tracy said. "There was no command at all."
Perez was lifted after the Phillies loaded the bases in the fourth on two walks and a single. With Bobby Abreu at the plate, Perez threw a pitch so high that it sailed over catcher Humberto Cota's glove and off the screen behind the plate. After pitch so high that it sailed over catcher Humberto Cota's glove and off the screen behind the plate. After Abreu walked, Ryan Vogelsong struck out Burrell with the bases loaded.
"We saw balls thrown all over the place, bounce in the dirt, thrown to the backstop," Tracy said.
Perez looked to be emerging as one of the majors' top power pitchers by striking out 239 while going 12-10 with a 2.98 ERA in 2004, but he is 8-9 with a 6.22 ERA over the last two seasons.
"I was feeling good out there, but I was going too fast," Perez said. "I have to be more consistent. I didn't throw good, and I didn't like it, but it happened and now I have to be prepared for my next game."
The Pirates haven't suggested they might send Perez back to the minors.
