USA's Archer leaves perfect game early due to arrangement with Rays

Whether he wanted to or not, Chris Archer, Team USA's first starter at the 2017 World Baseball Classic, wasn't pitching past the fourth inning on Friday. It didn't matter that he'd thrown only 41 pitches, and it didn't matter that he'd yet to allow a baserunner.

Due to an agreement with his MLB club, the Tampa Bay Rays, Archer's night was capped at four innings regardless of the situation, Daniel Kramer of MLB.com reports. The pitch limit for the opening round is officially 65, but Team USA stayed true to the arrangement.

"It was tough. Looking in (manager) Jim Leyland's eyes and telling him that I had to shut it down, it was tough," Archer said. "But I'm obligated to the Tampa Bay Rays. We had a plan coming in. We knew that was a possibility. ... I'm glad (Leyland) didn't put too much pressure on me to stay in, but it was definitely tough."

In a postgame interview with John Paul Morosi of MLB Network, Archer said he felt great and gave credit to his bullpen along with the opposing starter.

"Our bullpen stepped up in a big way and honestly, I tip my cap to Jose Quintana coming out here five and two-thirds," Archer said. "I couldn’t do it and my team was understanding of that, but it really shows something about that guy being able to do that."

Quintana was almost as impressive for Colombia, with the only baserunner he allowed before the fifth coming on a walk to Paul Goldschmidt.

Archer leaving the game early almost backfired for the U.S., as right-hander Mychal Givens allowed two runs on three consecutive doubles in his lone inning of work, giving Colombia an initial 2-0 lead. Team USA would tie the game in the sixth inning and later walk off in the 10th.

Archer induced contact throughout his four innings of work, relying on stellar defense behind him. He also struck out three batters and didn't walk any.