A 52-year-old man with a history of hypertension presents to the emergency department with acute chest pain and dyspnea. On examination, blood pressure is 180/110 mmHg, heart rate 110/min, and respiratory rate 28/min. ECG shows ST-segment elevation in leads II, III, and aVF. Cardiac troponin I is 0.8 ng/mL (normal <0.04). He is immediately taken for coronary angiography and primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is performed within 90 minutes of symptom onset. Reperfusion is achieved. Which of the following best explains why early reperfusion in this patient is critical to prevent irreversible myocardial injury?