Lefty Martin Perez throws 3 scoreless innings in final spring start, but Yankees beat Pirates

Martin Perez was warming up in the bullpen when he heard familiar voices calling for him. It was the Pittsburgh Pirates left-hander’s daughter and son, who were present for his final start of spring training.

Having his family there for support was a sign Perez is ready for the start of the regular season. He’s lined up to pitch Friday night at the Miami Marlins, earning the second spot of the starting rotation.

Having his cutter sharp was another priority for Perez. He threw it on 14 of his 54 pitches against the New York Yankees, getting one whiff on five swings and another for a called strike.

Perez recorded three strikeouts while allowing one hit and two walks in three scoreless innings Sunday afternoon. The Yankees scored a run off David Bednar in the fourth inning to beat the Pirates, 1-0, in a Grapefruit League game at LECOM Park in Bradenton, Fla.

Despite the short outing, Pirates pitching coach Oscar Marin was impressed with Perez, who posted a 0.60 ERA and 0.93 WHIP with a team-best 16 strikeouts in 15 innings while holding opponents to a .157 batting average over four starts this spring. He allowed two unearned runs in 12 innings over his final three starts.

The 32-year-old Perez, who signed a one-year $8 million contract with the Pirates, mixed his cutter with his changeup, sinker and curveball in throwing 29 of his 54 pitches for strikes.

“His pitchability is incredible,” Marin told SportsNet Pittsburgh. “He knows who he is. He knows how to combine his pitches, play one pitch off the other. He just continues to do it the entire spring. He wanted to be able to line up his cutter. It should be in a good spot now.”

Bednar replaced Perez in the fourth and got Austin Wells to fly out to center and Luis Torrens looking at a called third strike on a full-count four-seam fastball at the bottom corner of the zone. Josh VanMeter doubled to right and scored on a Jahmai Jones wind-aided double off the bottom of the left-field wall to give the Yankees a 1-0 lead.

Aroldis Chapman struck out two in a scoreless fifth.

The Pirates threatened to score against a pair of their former pitchers.

Billy McKinney drew a leadoff walk against Nick Burdi in the seventh and advanced to third on Jason Delay’s single to left. The Pirates attempted a delayed double steal, but Yankees catcher Ben Rortvedt ran a pickoff play with a throw to second baseman Caleb Durbin, who relayed it back to Rortvedt to get McKinney out at home plate.

Connor Joe and McKinney drew one-out walks off Yerry De Los Santos, but Delay flied out to left and Josiah Sightler to center to end the game.

Notes: Left-hander Marco Gonzales is expected to start Monday when the Pirates host the Toronto Blue Jays in the Grapefruit League finale at LECOM Park. … The Pirates are off Tuesday and Wednesday before playing the season opener at 4:10 p.m. Thursday at the Miami Marlins.