Marlins Remove Pérez After Seven Perfect Innings, Then Hold On for 9-8 Win

Miami Marlins pitcher Eury Pérez retired all 21 batters he faced over seven innings against the Athletics on July 5 in West Sacramento, California. He threw 92 pitches and struck out eight. Manager Clayton McCullough removed Pérez to begin the eighth inning.

McCullough cited a pre-game pitch-count limit of 90-plus pitches and the need to protect the 23-year-old for the Marlins' postseason plans. "I totally get it. There was a part of my heartstrings pulling at his opportunity to keep on going, but I have to think about Eury and our organization, our team and what's best moving forward to give us a chance to continue to win games," McCullough said, according to ESPN.

The Marlins led 8-0 before the Athletics scored three runs in the eighth and three more in the ninth. Miami added an insurance run in the top of the ninth and won 9-8. Heriberto Hernandez hit two home runs, while Leo Jimenez and Otto Lopez each hit one.

The victory improved the Marlins to 49-42. They have won nine of their last 12 games. Pérez returned from the injured list on June 24 and has never thrown a complete game in his MLB career. He became the youngest player with a perfect-game bid through seven innings since Pedro Martínez in 1994.

Pérez defended the decision after the game. "It's something that doesn't feel good. But they don't know the inside information. I'm very proud of my team and very proud of my manager. Mostly the communication that we have," he said, according to ESPN.