Both runs came before Pérez was pulled in the fifth. The Red Sox also put runners on in each of the first four innings, but they could manage to come through only once in a 3-2 loss today. Pérez is due to take them on again, this time in Fenway, next weekend.

Pérez struck out four and walked two and needed only 82 pitches to get into the seventh inning, but the White Sox blew a two-run lead in the ninth inning, which cost him a win. The veteran had just a 15 percent whiff rate, but he had 18 called strikes, which helped give him a 28 percent CSW. There’s nothing overpowering here, but the veteran is doing exactly what the White Sox need him to: eat innings and keep his team in the game. Things will get much tougher for him next week against the Red Sox.

Mike Vasil lost the no-hitter in the seventh, but he and Brandon Eisert finished the shutout. The nine strikeouts matched Pérez’s career high; he did it once in 2019 and twice in his stunning 2022 campaign. Pérez also had a nice spring, finishing with a 2.25 ERA in 16 innings. We doubt he’ll recreate that 2022 magic this year — aside from that season, when he came in at 2.89, he’s had an ERA over 4.30 every year since 2014 — but then, we never saw 2022 coming, either.

Pérez’s rotation spot was assured from the moment he signed with the White Sox, but he’s had an excellent spring anyway, posting a 2.25 ERA in five starts. He’s even struck out 15 in 16 innings.