PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. -- Oliver Perez's outing Wednesday alarmed his manager, not because he gave up six runs but because he walked six in 3 2-3 innings of the New York Mets' 10-6 loss to the Detroit Tigers on Wednesday.
Tigers starter Nate Robertson left the game with a sprained thumb on his pitching hand. Robertson, competing for the No. 5 spot in the rotation, was hit by a throw while trying to cover first base in the bottom of the first inning.
Mets manager Jerry Manuel said he will watch Perez, who gave up five hits, carefully in his next couple of outings.
"I think when you don't have command and you don't have that extra velocity, you're going to struggle and that's what happened today," Manuel said. "(Perez) had neither. We have some things to work out."
Perez's outing comes a day after Mike Pelfrey gave up six earned runs and 10 hits, and fellow starter John Maine has struggled, too. He has a 10.38 ERA this spring coming off September surgery to shave a bone spur in his right shoulder.
"Pelfrey I think is OK," Manuel said. "He sinks the ball real well, so he's always one pitch away. Maine, it's a big day for him (Thursday) for his confidence."
Left-handed reliever Ron Villone also struggled Wednesday allowing four hits and four runs in one inning. Three of the four hits were by left-handed batters.
There were bright spots for Manuel's staff, though.
Bobby Parnell tossed another scoreless inning, lowering his spring ERA to 2.61 and Brian Stokes worked two perfect innings with two strikeouts.
Carlos Beltran went 2-for-3 with a double, an RBI and a run scored in his return to the Mets' lineup. Carlos Delgado went 0-for-2.
Tigers' shortstop Adam Everett also left the game in the top of the first after spraining his ankle sliding into second base.
Game notes
Mets closer Francisco Rodriguez and setup man J.J. Putz saw their first game action since returning from the World Baseball Classic. Each tossed a scoreless inning in a minor league game Wednesday. K-Rod, who started the game, needed just 10 pitches -- seven strikes -- in his perfect inning. Putz also didn't allow anyone to reach base in an inning. Putz is scheduled to throw again tomorrow -- his first back-to-back outing of the spring. He will then take two days off before pitching a two-inning stint on Sunday. Rodriguez is scheduled to pitch Friday against the Nationals and will follow the same course set out for Putz with back-to-back outings followed by two days off and a two-inning stint. ... Johan Santana is scheduled to start Friday night's game against the Nationals.