Marlins Pull Perfect Pitcher Pérez, Nearly Blow Eight-Run Lead in Wild Victory
Miami Marlins pitcher Eury Pérez was removed from a perfect game after seven innings on Sunday in West Sacramento, a decision that nearly cost his team a significant lead but ultimately resulted in a 9-8 win over the Athletics. Pérez, making his third start since returning from a leg injury, had retired all 21 batters he faced, striking out eight and throwing 92 pitches, before manager Clayton McCullough opted to go to the bullpen.
The crowd at Sutter Health Park voiced strong disapproval as Pérez exited, with some fans chanting “SHAME!” The situation quickly unraveled when reliever Lake Bachar entered the game in the eighth inning. Bachar walked the first batter, Lawrence Butler, then gave up a single to Josh Kuroda-Grauer, ending the perfect game bid and the no-hitter. Carlos Cortes followed with an RBI double, and after Max Muncy walked, Jonah Heim hit a grand slam, cutting Miami’s eight-run advantage to just three.
Bachar continued to struggle, surrendering five runs without recording an out, as the Athletics scored multiple times in the eighth. The Marlins had built their lead on a strong offensive performance, including two home runs from Heriberto Hernández and additional long balls from Leo Jiménez and Otto Lopez, who also drove in three runs. Lopez, leading the majors with a .346 batting average, had three hits, as did Hernández, contributing to Miami’s 16-hit total.
Despite the late-game drama, with Pete Fairbanks closing out the ninth after the A’s scored three more runs, the Marlins secured the one-run victory. McCullough defended his decision to pull Pérez, citing a predetermined pitch count of around 90 pitches for the 23-year-old right-hander, who missed the entire 2024 season after Tommy John surgery and had been sidelined recently with a leg strain. The manager emphasized prioritizing Pérez’s health and his importance for the team’s postseason aspirations.
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