Three up, three down after Rangers swept at home by Colorado

(Associated Press photo/Tony Gutierrez)

ARLINGTON — Martin Perez is thrilled to be back with the Texas Rangers, the team that signed him in 2007 as a 16-year-old and the team he had hoped would re-sign him in 2018.

He says he is a different pitcher now after a season with Minnesota and two with Boston — more experienced, less emotional. He allowed three runs Tuesday in four-plus innings, making pitches when he needed them to limit keep the Rangers within reach of the Colorado Rockies.

Perez still knows how to get a double-play grounder, and he induced two to end the second and third innings.

He became the second Rangers pitcher to see the fifth inning this season. Dane Dunning completed five Saturday.

The lack of innings from the rotation, something the Rangers are doing by design, is making things tough on the bullpen — even with 10 relievers in it.

The pitching staff hasn’t been good enough through five games, and the Rangers are 1-4 because of it.

Here’s three up, three down from a 4-1 loss to the Rockies.

Jeff Wilson, jeff@rangerstoday.com