Miami- Eury Pérez looked every bit like the ace Miami needs on Sunday afternoon. The towering right-hander went toe-to-toe with Milwaukee Brewers flamethrower Jacob Misiorowski in a thrilling duel, helping the Marlins snap a four-game losing streak with a 5-3 victory at loanDepot park. The win not only avoided the series sweep but also gave Miami a much-needed jolt of momentum after a tough stretch.
Pérez Bounces Back in a Battle of Giants
This pitching matchup was worth the price of admission. At 6-foot-8, Pérez had been struggling over his last three starts — a 6.23 ERA in that span raised eyebrows — but Sunday was a different story. He delivered a quality start, allowing just one unearned run on three hits across five innings.
The secret? His four-seam fastball. Pérez leaned on the pitch heavily, throwing it 66.7% of the time and collecting six of his seven strikeouts with it. It was a vintage performance, efficient and electric, as he needed just 84 pitches to get through his outing.
The matchup was made even more compelling by the sheer velocity on display from both starters:
| Pitcher | Team | Avg. Four-Seam Velo | Rank Among Starters |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bubba Chandler | Pittsburgh | 98.9 mph | 1st |
| Jacob Misiorowski | Milwaukee | 98.5 mph | 2nd |
| Eury Pérez | Miami | 98.2 mph | 3rd |
Two of the hardest throwers in the league took the mound in Miami, and Pérez came out on top.
How the Runs Scored
Miami wasted no time getting to Misiorowski. The Marlins loaded the bases in the first inning for Kyle Stowers, who was making his season debut after recovering from a hamstring strain. Stowers worked an eight-pitch at-bat against triple-digit heat, ultimately forcing in a run when he was hit by a 101.5 mph fastball.
A wild pitch brought home another run, and Liam Hicks capped the three-run first with a two-out RBI single. By the end of the frame, Misiorowski had thrown 30 pitches and was already on the ropes.
Milwaukee clawed back in the sixth, but the run was unearned. Pérez issued a walk to David Hamilton, who promptly stole second and advanced to third on a throwing error by Hicks. Hamilton scored on Garrett Mitchell’s RBI groundout, cutting the lead to 3-1.
Miami responded immediately. In the bottom of the sixth, manager Skip Schumaker called on pinch-hitter Javier Sanoja against southpaw DL Hall — and Sanoja delivered. His two-run single pushed the lead to 5-1 and marked a special milestone: it was the 100th career hit for Sanoja, who couldn’t have picked a better moment to make history.
Milwaukee made it interesting late. Gary Sánchez drove in two runs with a single off Andrew Nardi in the eighth, trimming the deficit to 5-3. But Pete Fairbanks shut the door in the ninth, inducing a flyout from Blake Perkins to seal the victory.
Key Takeaways
- Eury Pérez silenced critics: After three rocky starts, Pérez looked dominant again, delivering seven strikeouts and a quality start with just one unearned run allowed.
- Kyle Stowers returns: Fresh off the injured list, Stowers made an immediate impact in his season debut, forcing in a run during a gritty first-inning at-bat.
- Javier Sanoja’s milestone moment: Sanoja’s pinch-hit two-run single not only gave Miami breathing room but also marked his 100th career hit.
- Skid snapped: Miami ended its four-game losing streak, salvaging the final game of the series against Milwaukee.
- Liam Hicks stays hot: Hicks continues to lead the Marlins’ offense, boasting a .309 average and 18 RBIs on the season.
This was exactly the kind of game Miami needed. Pérez rediscovered his form, the offense came alive early, and the Marlins got clutch contributions from key players like Sanoja and Hicks.
The win brings Miami’s record to 8-10, and while there’s plenty of work to be done, Sunday’s performance showed flashes of the team’s potential. With Pérez back in rhythm and a healthy lineup, the Marlins will look to build on this momentum as they head into their next series.
Source: MLB.com — Game Recap: Marlins 5, Brewers 3 (April 19, 2026)
