The Miami Marlins removed pitcher Eury Pérez from a potential perfect game after seven innings during a recent outing against the Boston Red Sox.
The decision highlights the tension between pursuing historic individual milestones and the cautious management of a young player returning from injury. While the move was intended to protect Pérez, it triggered a collapse that nearly cost Miami the game.
Pérez retired all 21 batters he faced through seven innings [1], [2], [3]. Manager Clayton McCullough lifted the pitcher before the eighth inning began [3]. This cautious approach was rooted in concerns regarding Pérez's recovery and the risk of overextending himself [1], [2].
Following the removal of Pérez, the Marlins' pitching struggled. Lake Bachar gave up a grand slam as part of a five-run inning for the Boston Red Sox [1], [2]. The rally erased much of the Marlins' early momentum, as they had previously held an eight-run lead [3].
Despite the late-inning surge by Boston, the Marlins secured a 9-8 victory [1], [3]. The game took place in West Sacramento, California, as part of a series involving the Athletics [2], [3].
"Eury Perez retired all 21 batters he faced, but the Marlins opted for caution as the young ace returns from injury," Jeff Passan said [1].
AP News said that the Marlins nearly squandered their lead after McCullough made the decision to pull Pérez [3]. The sequence of events led some observers to suggest the "Baseball Gods" punished the team for prioritizing health over a perfect game [2].
“Eury Pérez retired all 21 batters he faced, but the Marlins opted for caution”
This incident underscores the modern MLB trend of strict pitch counts and workload management for young arms. By prioritizing long-term health over a rare perfect game, the Marlins accepted a high-risk tactical gamble in the short term to ensure their ace's longevity, though it nearly resulted in a lost game.
