Wash impressed by Perez's instrasquad outing

SURPRISE, Ariz. -- Left-hander Martin Perez was the first pitcher that manager Ron Washington mentioned after Tuesday's intrasquad game. Perez allowed a hit and notched a strikeout in a scoreless inning.

"Perez did great," Washington said. "He kept the ball down, threw some changeups, locked up a right-handed hitter on a backdoor breaking ball, threw a breaking ball on a 2-0 count, worked fast and kept his rhythm."

Perez finished last season as the Rangers' fifth starter, but he has to win the job in Spring Training. His primary competition is going to come from left-hander Robbie Ross and right-handers Randy Wells and Kyle McClellan. Wells and McClellan have thrown the ball well early in camp, and Perez is going to have to fight for the job.

"He's got to win it," Washington said. "He's certainly got a chance to hold on to the job, but he has to hold on to it. We're not going to hold it for him. We're not babysitting him."