UPDATE: Chicago White Sox pitcher Martín Pérez delivered an impressive performance in his return from the injured list, but the Sox fell to the Atlanta Braves 1-0 on August 20, 2025, at Truist Park. The game was marked by stellar pitching, with both teams managing just four hits combined.
Pérez allowed only one unearned run, striking out five batters and not issuing a walk over 5 1/3 innings. “I was in my rhythm again and attacking from the first pitch,” Pérez said, highlighting his effective command during the game. Despite the loss, he expressed optimism about the team’s performance, stating, “You’ve got to keep going.”
The Braves’ Hurston Waldrep was the standout pitcher, throwing seven scoreless innings and earning the win. Waldrep struck out seven batters and walked just one. White Sox manager Will Venable praised Waldrep’s ability to effectively utilize his pitches, saying, “Waldrep, really good (splitter), (we) knew that coming in.”
This matchup contrasted sharply with the high-scoring games earlier in the series, where the teams combined for 43 runs in the first two contests. The Sox had won the series opener 13-9 and lost the second game 11-10 after leading 10-4. On Wednesday, however, the offensive fireworks were absent, with both teams struggling to find their rhythm at the plate.
Only four hits were recorded by the White Sox, all singles from Mike Tauchman, Brooks Baldwin, Luis Robert Jr., and Curtis Mead. “That game in general was really the opposite of what we saw the first two games,” Venable noted.
Pérez’s start was his first since returning from the 60-day injured list on August 13. In his previous outing against the Detroit Tigers, he allowed one run over 3 1/3 innings. His last full start was on April 18 against the Red Sox, where he exited early due to left elbow inflammation.
Pérez reflected on his comeback, saying, “I’m just trying to enjoy it. Was close to being home early this year, so now I’m back and just trying to enjoy more again.” He emphasized the importance of focus and competition every time he takes the mound.
The only run of the game came in the fourth inning when Braves designated hitter Marcell Ozuna scored on an error by White Sox shortstop Colson Montgomery. Montgomery struggled to field a grounder, allowing Ozuna to cross home plate with the game’s lone score.
“I told the guys last night, ‘Hey, just save a couple runs for tomorrow, please,’” Pérez joked after the game. “But, I mean, it is what it is, man. I think we played a good series and we’ve just got to keep doing what we’ve been doing.”
The White Sox concluded their road trip with a disappointing 1-5 record but Venable remains optimistic about the team’s trajectory. “For me, that game aside, we came into this series not playing very good baseball and I thought we got back to being where we were at coming out of the break,” he said.
With just five weeks left in the season, both players and management are determined to finish strong. As Pérez stated, “Hopefully we can continue to do the job.”
Fans and analysts will be watching closely to see how the White Sox regroup after this hard-fought series, as they aim to bounce back in the coming games.
