Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Bowden Francis reacts as he works against the New York Mets during first inning interleague MLB baseball action in Toronto, Wednesday, Sept. 11, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chris Young
Toronto Blue Jays right-hander Bowden Francis threw eight no-hit innings on Wednesday afternoon before the bullpen faltered in a 6-2 loss to the New York Mets.
Francisco Lindor ended Francis’s no-hit bid with a solo homer to lead off the ninth inning. He drove an 0-2 pitch an estimated 398 feet to tie the game.
Pete Alonso and Starling Marte pushed runs across with sacrifice flies against reliever Chad Green (4-6), who gave up a hit and three walks. Francisco Alvarez iced it with a three-run homer off Genesis Cabrera.
Danny Young (4-0) recorded one out for the win and Edwin Diaz got one out for his 18th save.
It was the second time in the last month that Francis, who threw 111 pitches, had a no-hitter after eight innings.
His previous no-hit bid also ended with a leadoff homer in the ninth. Taylor Ward ended that bid in Toronto’s 3-1 win over the L.A. Angels on Aug. 24.
Dave Stieb recorded the only no-hitter in Blue Jays history on Sept. 2, 1990 in a 3-0 road win over Cleveland.
Francis, the American League pitcher of the month for August, needed only 44 pitches to retire the first 12 Mets batters in order.
The Blue Jays opened the scoring in the fourth inning against Mets starter Sean Manaea after loading the bases on back-to-back singles and a walk.
Davis Schneider’s slow grounder forced Ernie Clement out at third but plated Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
Francis hit Alonso with a pitch in the fifth inning to give New York its first baserunner. Marte walked before Alvarez flew out to end the frame.
Schneider helped extend the no-hit bid in the sixth with a highlight-reel catch. Harrison Bader pulled the ball to deep left field but Schneider timed his jump perfectly and caught it against the wall.
Francis worked his speeds nicely throughout his appearance, mixing a splitter in with his fastball and slow curve. He got J.D. Martinez to hit a weak pop-up for the final out in the seventh as his pitch count rose to 102.
Manaea departed in the eighth after issuing a two-out walk to Brian Serven. He allowed three hits, one earned run and four walks while striking out eight.
With most of the announced crowd of 29,399 on their feet for the ninth inning, Francis got Lindor to fall behind in the count before the shortstop pounced on a 92-m.p.h. fastball for his 31st homer of the year.
Francis walked a batter and had one strikeout. He threw 68 of his 111 pitches for strikes.
After Green struggled, Alvarez welcomed Cabrera by launching his first pitch an estimated 439 feet to straightaway centre field for his seventh homer.
The Mets (80-66) moved a half-game ahead of Atlanta for the third and final wild-card spot in the National League. The Braves were scheduled to play the Washington Nationals on Wednesday night.
Addison Barger drove in Daulton Varsho in the bottom of the ninth for the last-place Blue Jays (69-78). The game took two hours 37 minutes to play.
BICHETTE REHAB
Shortstop Bo Bichette was slated to resume his rehab assignment Thursday for the Triple-A Buffalo Bisons.
Bichette, who has been on the injured list since July 20 due to a calf strain, had a single in three at-bats in a 13-2 loss to Gwinnett on Tuesday night.
“All the reports were that he felt good,” Toronto manager John Schneider said.
If he continues to progress, the Blue Jays hope Bichette could make his return to the big-league level next week.
SILVER STARS
Canadian beach volleyball player Melissa Humana-Paredes threw the ceremonial first pitch before the game.
She was joined on the mound by teammate Brandie Wilkerson.
Last month in Paris, the Olympic silver medallists became the first Canadian duo to reach a beach volleyball final at the Summer Games.
COMING UP
Both teams are off on Thursday.
The Blue Jays will kick off a three-game series against the visiting St. Louis Cardinals on Friday. The Mets will continue their road trip in Philadelphia.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 11, 2024.
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