PORT ST. LUCIE — Oliver Perez was determined to throw strikes yesterday, the Nationals hitters be damned.
Fore!
The results were ugly — as in five earned runs allowed on seven hits over three innings — but Perez and the Mets called the left-hander’s spring debut a success.
Six months removed from surgery to remove scar tissue from his right knee, Perez was back in game action for the first time, and the cynic would say already in midseason form.
Perez allowed a three-run homer to Mike Morse in the first inning before surrendering an RBI single to Willy Taveras in the second and an RBI double to Kevin Mench in the third. The day’s best pitching came from lefties Hisanori Takahashi and Pat Misch, who combined for six shutout innings in the Mets’ 6-5 exhibition victory at Tradition Field.
“I was a little nervous,” said Perez, who struck out two and walked one. “First of all, I was happy because I didn’t feel anything in my knee.”
After receiving a three-year contract worth $36 million before the start of the 2009 season, Perez went 3-4 with a 6.82 ERA and made just 14 starts because of knee problems. Perez’s problems began in spring training, when he returned out of shape from the World Baseball Classic.
He is the Mets’ biggest reclamation project this spring in a rotation that needs Perez, Mike Pelfrey and John Maine to rebound.
“Outside the obvious numbers on the board I thought it was an extremely positive day [for Perez],” pitching coach Dan Warthen said. “The first one is always the toughest, no matter how far you go and how long you play the game.”
Perez threw 49 pitches, 33 of which were strikes, pleasing Warthen with his command of the strike zone. Control was Perez’s biggest issue last season, when he walked 58 batters in 66 innings.
The lefty went primarily with his fastball and changeup yesterday, mixing in about five sliders, by his count.
“My focus today was my feeling in my knee, because I know it’s very different throwing in the bullpen and throwing in games,” Perez said. “I started using all my pitches, my location. I was throwing my ball well and good location with my changeup.”
Warthen and manager Jerry Manuel mentioned a borderline 2-2 fastball to Justin Maxwell leading off the game as a momentum changer. The pitch was called a ball and Maxwell eventually walked. Ian Desmond singled and with one out Morse cleared the left-field fence for a three-run homer.
“Ollie threw strikes — that was the main focus,” Manuel said. “When you get the results of strikes, you’re doing some things right mechanically. It’s when you scatter the baseball that you have to go back and visit the mechanics.”
Perez’s final line might have included another run if not for the throw home Jeff Francoeur made to nail Mench, ending the third inning. Mench’s double had scored Ivan Rodriguez, who singled after Perez got two fast outs in the inning.
“I was very happy with Oliver,” Warthen said. “He hasn’t seen hitters since last August, so I think he was a little excited, but overall he maintained everything he’s been working on.”