Marlins Stave Off Athletics After Pérez’s Near‑Perfect Effort

Pérez Dominates Early

Eury Pérez tossed seven spotless innings, retiring every batter he faced en route to a season‑high eight strikeouts and his fourth walk‑less outing of the year. The 6‑foot‑8 right‑hander, returning from Tommy John surgery and a bizarre leg injury sustained while stretching in the dugout, hurled 92 pitches—the most since rejoining the club on June 24. Miami manager Clayton McCullough lifted him before the eighth, prompting boos from a crowd of Athletic fans.

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The decision to remove Pérez set up a frantic eighth inning. reliever Lake Bachar issued a leadoff walk to Lawrence Butler, followed by a shallow single from Joshua Kuroda‑Grauer. Carlos Cortes drove in a run with a double, Max Muncy walked, and Jonah Heim launched a grand slam that narrowed the margin to 8‑5. Bachar could not record a single out in the inning, surrendering five runs on six hits.

Marlins’ Offensive Explosion

Miami’s hitting show featured three home runs, two from Heriberto Hernández and solitary shots by Leo Jiménez and Otto Lopez. López, who leads the majors with a .346 batting average, added three RBI and two runs, finishing with three of the team’s 16 hits. His sixth‑inning back‑to‑back dingers with Hernández capped a six‑run burst that gave the Marlins an eight‑run cushion.

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López’s 39 multi‑hit games are the most before the All‑Star break, putting him just one shy of Houston’s Jose Altuve’s 2014 total. Hernández’s solo slams in the first and sixth innings highlighted a 4‑for‑4 night for the surprise Marlins, who sit at 49‑42 and have won nine of their last 12 games.

Athletics Fight Back

Jonah Heim turned the tables with a two‑run single, boosting his RBI total to six for the night. He also hit the grand slam that briefly threatened Miami’s lead. Gage Jump (3‑3) struggled, allowing a career‑high six runs over three innings as the Athletics dropped seven of their last eight decisions.

Pete Fairbanks preserved the victory by retiring the side in the ninth despite giving up three earned runs. Michael Petersen stabilized the Marlins’ bullpen in the eighth, and an insurance run in the ninth proved crucial in keeping the game out of extra innings.

Key Statistical Highlights

• Pérez logged his fifth win and sixth loss, striking out eight without a walk.
• Lopez’s .346 average remains the league’s highest batting line.
• Hernández’s two home runs gave Miami 12 of its 16 hits.
• Heim’s six RBIs marked the most by any Athletic in a single game this season.

Looking Ahead

The Marlins open a road series Tuesday in Seattle, while the Athletics travel to Detroit for their next contest. Both clubs will look to bounce back from this roller‑coaster matchup as they chase playoff positioning later in the year.

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AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb