PHOENIX — Left-hander Oliver Perez is back in a pennant race after the Arizona Diamondbacks traded him to the Houston Astros following Friday’s game.
Perez made 19 consecutive scoreless appearances for the Diamondbacks from June 4, and he will provide a situational left-hander as the Astros’ attempt to hold off the Angels and Texas in the American League West. Perez is 2-1 with a 3.10 ERA, and lefties are hitting .183 against him in 60 at-bats this season.
“It’s why we play baseball,” Perez said of moving into the thick of the race. “It is going to be really good opportunity for me and for my family.”
Perez, 33, was traded to the New York Mets at the trade deadline in 2006, the other time he has appeared in the postseason. A starter at that point in his career, Perez was 1-0 in two NLCS starts against St. Louis.
“(Houston) is in a good spot right now, and I would like to help in any way,” Perez said.
Since June 4, Perez has given up six hits with 18 strikeouts in 14 1-3 scoreless innings. His 19-game scoreless streak was tied for the third-longest in Arizona history behind J.J. Putz and Brandon Lyon (both 24).
Perez signed a two-year, $4.25 million deal with the Diamondbacks before the 2014 season and will be a free agent this winter. A native of Culiacan, Mexico, Perez maintains a home in Arizona not far from the Diamondbacks’ training facility in Scottsdale and said he would be interested in returning to Arizona next winter.
“I’d love to come back here because I know next year this team is going to be in the playoffs,” Perez said. “We have a really good relationship here in the bullpen and here in the clubhouse. This is a really good organization, and I know they are going the right way.”
Perez’s name was rumored at the July 31 trade deadline because left-handed relievers are often in high demand, but since the move was made after, he had to go through waivers before the deal could be made.
“I caught me by surprise,” Perez said. “Normally you feel it before Aug. 1. Right now I didn’t even think about it.”
The Diamondbacks received Class A left-hander Junior Garcia from the Astros.