Braves pitcher Williams Perez allowed one run on seven hits in six innings of work in Atlanta's 6-3 loss to the Dodgers on Monday, but did not factor into the decision.
Perez's lone blemish came in the first inning when he loaded the bases for Andre Ethier. Perez walked Ethier to plate a run. After that, Perez settled down and recorded seven strikeouts and no more walks.
"He was a little shaky in the first inning; I think he had 30 pitches in the first inning. But he bounced back and he did a nice job," manager Fredi Gonzalez said to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. "To come in here as a rookie – I know they didn’t have a sellout, but it's still Dodger Stadium against a pretty good lineup, and the juices are flowing. You kind of expect that first inning. But I'm proud of him the way he settled down and gave us six innings. It was right about where we wanted him, 25 pitches more than last time. Something to build on and go forward."
Perez, who reamins 0-0, moved his ERA to 4.05 in 13 1/3 innings of work. He will look to pick up his first win of the year Saturday against the Giants.