For the second time in three weeks, Blue Jays pitcher Bowden Francis fell painfully short of a no-hitter.
Francis threw eight no-hit innings against the New York Mets on Wednesday and returned to the mound in the ninth having thrown 108 pitches with a shot at history. Then Francisco Lindor spoiled it.
With Toronto holding a 1-0 lead, Lindor launched an 0-2 fastball into the right-field stands at Rogers Centre to lead off the inning and tie the game.
The solo shot ended Francis’ no-hit bid. It also cost him a chance at the win. With that, Francis’ day was done, and he left the game after 111 pitches ineligible to factor into the decision.
The Mets piled on after breaking up the no-hit bid. New York added five more runs off relievers Chad Green and Génesis Cabrera to take a 6-1 lead into the bottom of the ninth. The inning concluded on a Lindor flyout on his second at-bat of the frame.
The Blue Jays added a run in the bottom of the ninth, but the Mets held on for a 6-2 win after being no-hit through eight innings.
The scene was painfully reminiscent of one that played out less than three weeks ago. Francis returned to the mound Aug. 24 having thrown 112 pitches in eight no-hit innings against the Los Angeles Angels. On that day, Taylor Ward hit a leadoff home run to break up Francis’ no-hit bid in the ninth inning.
The Blue Jays are still in search of the franchise’s second no-hitter. Dave Stieb threw the first in 1990. Francis has come close twice, but the Blue Jays remain stuck at one. They’ve had six no-hit bids broken up in the ninth inning since Stieb’s no-hitter.
For Francis, it’s the second no-hitter lost in the ninth inning in four starts. He finished his day having allowed one run, with Lindor’s solo home run standing as the only hit against him. He walked one and struck out one while lowering his ERA to 3.50 and his WHIP to 0.93 in 92 2/3 innings pitched.
