PHOENIX (AP) — The Houston Astros have added help in the bullpen, acquiring lefty reliever Oliver Perez from the Arizona Diamondbacks for a minor league pitcher.
The trade was announced Friday night following Arizona’s 2-0 victory over the Cincinnati Reds. Perez joins a surprising Houston team that has a 1 1/2-game lead in the AL West and is trying to hold off the second-place Los Angeles Angels.
The 33-year-old Perez is 2-1 with a 3.10 ERA in 48 appearances this season. He leaves Arizona with a 19-game scoreless streak that is tied for the third-longest in Diamondbacks history.
The veteran pitcher said goodbye to teammates and Diamondbacks staff in the clubhouse late Friday.
Arizona gets 19-year-old lefty Junior Garcia in the deal and will call up another left-hander, Keith Hessler, from Triple-A Reno to fill Perez’s spot in the bullpen.
