Prep baseball: IMG's Perez throws scoreless inning in All-Star Game

(foxsportsohio.com)

Holmes Beach native and IMG graduate Chris Perez threw a scoreless inning for the American League during tonight's All-Star Game.

Perez, a closer with the Cleveland Indians, retired Los Angeles' Matt Kemp and Cincinnati's Joey Votto, the latter of whom struck out, before allowing a double to Yadier Molina.

Molina was Perez's battery mate while Perez was with St. Louis, and he tipped his cap and smiled at the pitcher prior to the at-bat.

Perez smiled back after Molina stopped at second.

But the double didn't hurt the AL, as Perez retired Justin Upton on a fly out to left.

Tuesday marked Perez's first appearance in an All-Star game. He is 2-4 with a 2.43 ERA and 21 saves in 36 games with the surprising Indians, who are 47-42 and a half game back of first-place Detroit in the American League Central.

Prep baseball: Pendleton's Chris Perez a key part of Indians' start

(photo from cleveland.com)

The Cleveland Indians are off to their best start since 2002 - thanks in no small part to Bradenton native Chris Perez.

Perez threw a perfect inning Sunday to preserve the Indians' 6-4 win over the Seattle Mariners. It was the fourth save of the year for Perez, who has helped stake the surprising Indians to a 7-2 start.

A graduate of The Pendleton School who also pitched for Manatee, Perez hasn't been scored upon in five innings this season. He's allowed two hits, walked two and struck out three, and is 4-for-4 in save chances.

Perez is coming off a solid 2010 season, when he converted 23 of 27 saves and posted a 1.71 ERA in 63 games.

The St. Louis Cardinals chose Perez with the 42nd overall pick of the 2006 draft before trading him to Cleveland during the '09 season.

Perez and the Indians head to Tropicana Field for a three-game series with the Tampa Bay Rays from May 27-29. It will be the Indians' lone trip to St. Petersburg this season.