Perez Enduring ‘Toughest’ Year of His Career

Dodger left-hander Carlos Perez has been battered from foul pole to foul pole this season. But nothing hit him as hard as Tuesday’s roster move did.

It was no surprise. Perez knew he was about to be optioned to the Dodgers’ triple-A team at Albuquerque after slipping to 2-10 in 17 appearances with an earned-run average of 7.43. Still, reality was about as easy to handle as a line drive up the middle.

“I have never been sent down,” Perez said. “This is the toughest year of my career. I want to help this team. But I am not going to put my head down and cry. This is baseball.

“I want to come back. I want to be with my team. It’s no fun being in the minors. I’m not used to hard times. Those kinds of things bother me.”

Although there is no telling how long it will take Perez to clear up problems with his mechanics and velocity, he and team officials are guessing it will take four to five starts before he is ready to contribute at the big-league level.

Minor-league pitching coordinator Jim Benedict, who worked with Perez when the pitcher had similar problems with the Montreal Expos five years ago, will again try to straighten Perez out.

“He fixed me before,” said Perez, who has a contract that pays him $3 million this season and $12.6 million over the next two years.

“When you lose your mechanics, you lose everything. I want to get my mind clean and then come back.”

*

With Perez shipped out and second baseman Eric Young put on the 15-day disabled list, the Dodgers replaced them with Albuquerque pitchers Robinson Checo and Jeff Kubenka.

The left-handed Kubenka was 0-1 in three relief appearances for the Dodgers earlier this season. At Albuquerque in 40 appearances, he was 4-4 with seven saves and a 2.91 ERA.

*

Left fielder Gary Sheffield’s wife, Deleon Richards-Sheffield, sang the national anthem.

DODGER ATTENDANCE

Wednesday: 32,127

1999 (51 dates): 1,995,598

1998 (51 dates): 1,987,067

Total increase: 8,531

1999 average: 39,129

1998 average: 38,962

Average increase: 167

TODAY

DODGERS’ DARREN DREIFORT (8-9, 5.68 ERA)

vs.

REDS’ PETE HARNISCH (9-6, 3.71)

Dodger Stadium, 1 p.m.

TV--Fox Sports West 2.

Radio--KXTA (1150), KWKW (1330).

* Update--In a rare weekday afternoon game at Dodger Stadium, Dreifort closes out the series against the Reds. After walking 19 batters in his first three starts, he has gained control of his delivery, having walked only 10 batters in his previous 30 innings. Dreifort has walked three or fewer in 15 of his 17 appearances.