Miami Marlins
· 2026-07-07
Miami Marlins secured a 9-8 win over the Oakland Athletics on July 5, 2026, when right‑hander Eury Pérez retired the first 21 hitters before being lifted at 92 pitches. The victory kept the Marlins in 6th place in the National League with a 49-42 record and a three‑game winning streak.
Pérez, returning from a leg strain, flirted with a franchise‑first perfect game, striking out batters through seven innings. He threw 97.9 mph on a nine‑pitch seventh before manager Clayton McCullough reached the 90‑pitch limit and called on reliever Lake Bachar. Bachar walked Lawrence Butler and gave up a bloop single to Joshua Kuroda‑Grauer, ending the perfect bid and no‑hitter.
McCullough explained the decision was about protecting Pérez’s health and the team’s postseason outlook. “I was comfortable with a 90‑plus pitch limit,” he said. The plan balanced the pitcher’s recovery needs with the Marlins’ push beyond the regular season, even though fans booed the move.
After Bachar’s rough eighth, Michael Petersen entered and stopped the Athletics’ momentum. Closer Pete Fairbanks took the ninth, allowing three runs but preserving the lead. The Marlins held on despite a Jonah Heim grand slam that cut the margin to three runs.
The win improves Miami’s standing and fuels optimism ahead of the next matchup against the Seattle Mariners on July 7, 2026. Pérez’s performance, even short‑changed, shows he can dominate deep into games, a key piece for a club eyeing a postseason run. The coaching staff’s disciplined approach to pitch counts may pay off as the rotation stays healthy into the stretch run.
Oakland fans erupted in boos when Bachar entered, hoping to witness history. Pérez felt the sting, noting the crowd didn’t understand the internal plan. Yet he remained proud of the team’s communication and the decision to prioritize long‑term success over a single night’s glory.