MIAMI — Marlins right-hander Eury Pérez, 23, tossed a career-high-tying seven scoreless innings and outdueled reigning NL Cy Young Award winner Paul Skenes in a 2-0 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates at loanDepot park, pushing Miami (61-59) to its third consecutive win and within 2 1/2 games of the third NL Wild Card spot.
Pérez allowed just three hits — all singles — with two walks and seven strikeouts. Over his last 11 starts, the young right-hander has posted a 1.82 ERA, the fourth lowest in the Majors among pitchers with at least 60 innings thrown since May 22. He set a career high for most starts in a season at 21 and extended his career high in innings pitched to 116 2/3.
“It feels very nice,” Pérez said via interpreter Luis Dorante. “I had those situations before facing [Jacob] Misiorowski or [Jacob] deGrom and just going out there, trying to get the ‘W.’ To me, it’s a type of confidence. It feels like I’m at that level as well. I’ve been working a lot, and someday, hopefully, I will get a Cy Young as well. Just being able to do that is just a shot of adrenaline just being out there.”
Manager Clayton McCullough said the recent stretch reflects the pitcher Pérez was always projected to become after Tommy John surgery wiped out his 2024 campaign. “He’s going to have to put together some longer stretches, but I think [if] you look at these last 10-12 starts, it’s hard to think [of] anyone that is really throwing the ball better and suppressing runs like he has,” McCullough said. “Everyone has such a different path to how they’ve gotten here, and then in order to stay here and be a real consistent performer year after year, you have to make adjustments, and sometimes you have to get knocked down a little bit to be able to get yourself back up and go figure out what’s next to keep it going. I think we’re seeing that with Eury now, someone who’s taken some licks in a young Major League career, but all those experiences are beneficial and help him feel what he’s doing right now.”
Skenes, 24, who won the 2024 NL Rookie of the Year Award, the 2025 NL Cy Young Award and has been named a three-time All-Star, was chased after just 65 pitches. He tipped his cap to Pérez after the game. “He’s fun to watch,” Skenes said. “I really enjoy watching him pitch. I mean, pretty much the whole staff over there. I like watching those guys pitch. Just got really good stuff, and they’re going right after you.”
Miami manufactured both runs against Skenes off the bat and legs of Ruiz, who ambushed a 95.5 mph four-seamer for a solo homer in the third inning — his sixth of the season, surpassing his single-season career high. Ruiz added the insurance run in the fifth after reaching on a hit-by-pitch, advancing on a delayed steal and scoring when shortstop Jacob Gonzalez’s throw got past first baseman Spencer Horwitz. “Nothing is more fun than hitting a home run,” Ruiz said in Spanish.
The Diamondbacks, Phillies and Padres are all tied at 64-57 for the third NL Wild Card spot, with the Marlins now breathing down their necks heading into the stretch run.