In a performance that combined historic dominance with modern managerial caution, Eury Pérez retired every batter he faced through seven innings on Sunday. The Miami Marlins right-hander was the picture of efficiency, maintaining a Eury Pérez perfect game bid into the eighth before being pulled by manager Clayton McCullough. While the Marlins eventually secured a 9-8 victory over the Oakland Athletics to complete a three-game sweep, the afternoon at Sutter Health Park was defined by a brilliant start and a bullpen collapse that nearly erased it all.
A Masterclass in West Sacramento: Eury Pérez Dominates
From the opening pitch, Pérez looked like a pitcher possessed. Facing an Athletics lineup that had no answer for his 98-mph heater and sharp breaking stuff, the 23-year-old ace carved through 21 consecutive batters. He recorded a season-high eight strikeouts and did not allow a single baserunner, utilizing just 92 pitches to navigate seven perfect frames.
Pérez, who is still finding his form after missing the 2024 season due to Tommy John surgery and a recent stint on the injured list with a leg injury, showed why he is considered one of the elite arms in the game. He induced seven groundouts and six flyouts, with only one ball reaching the warning track. By the time he walked off the mound at the end of the seventh, the Marlins held a commanding 8-0 lead, and history felt within reach.
The Decision: Ending the Eury Pérez Perfect Game Bid
Despite the Eury Pérez perfect game bid remaining intact, McCullough made the controversial call to go to his bullpen for the eighth inning. The decision was met with a chorus of boos from the Sacramento crowd, who realized they were being denied a chance to witness the 25th perfect game in MLB history and the first in Marlins franchise history.
McCullough cited a strict pitch count and Pérez’s recent injury history as the primary reasons for the hook. "There was a part of my heartstrings pulling at his opportunity to keep on going," McCullough told reporters post-game, "but I have to think about Eury and our organization... what's best moving forward to give us a chance to continue to win games." Pérez had thrown 86 pitches in his previous start and was capped at roughly 90 for this outing.
Offensive Fireworks and a Near Collapse
Before the drama on the mound took center stage, the Marlins' offense provided what seemed like more than enough support. Heriberto Hernández led the charge with a multi-homer performance, while Otto Lopez—the current MLB batting leader with a .346 average—added a solo blast and three RBIs. Leo Jiménez also went deep as Miami set a franchise record with 12 home runs in a three-game series.
However, the 8-0 lead evaporated almost instantly after Pérez’s exit. Reliever Lake Bachar failed to record an out, walking the first batter he faced to end the perfect game bid and then surrendering a single to break up the no-hitter. The Athletics capitalized on the sudden shift in momentum, punctuated by a Jonah Heim grand slam that cut the lead to 8-5. The Marlins added an insurance run in the ninth, which proved vital as closer Pete Fairbanks struggled through a three-run ninth inning before finally inducing a groundout to preserve the one-run win.
Game Summary Stats
- Eury Pérez: 7.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 8 K (Perfect through 7 innings)
- Heriberto Hernández: 3-for-3, 2 HR, 2 RBI, 2 BB
- Otto Lopez: 3-for-5, HR, 3 RBI, 2 R
- Jonah Heim (OAK): 2-for-5, HR (Grand Slam), 6 RBI
- Final Score: Miami Marlins 9, Oakland Athletics 8
The victory moves the Marlins to 49-42 on the season, seven games over .500. While the win counts in the standings, the debate over McCullough's decision to pull Pérez while six outs away from immortality is likely to linger as one of the most talked-about moments of the 2026 season.
Sources & Original Reporting
