Toronto's Francis Loses Another Heartbreaker: A Near No-Hitter Snatched Away In The Ninth
Toronto Blue Jays' right-hander Bowden Francis, already marked by his near-misses, faced another gut-wrenching defeat as he fell short of a no-hitter for the second time in his last four starts. The promising pitcher, who has tantalized fans with glimpses of pitching greatness, witnessed his no-hit bid dissolve in the ninth inning when Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor smashed a leadoff home run.
Before Lindor’s gut-punch, Francis had worked a masterful eight hitless innings, effortlessly dismantling the Mets lineup. His dominance was underscored by an economical eighth inning, where he retired the side on just six pitches.
Francis's effort evoked memories of the last no-hitter thrown by a Blue Jays pitcher—a feat accomplished by Dave Stieb on September 2, 1990. That memory has now aged over three decades, keeping Toronto fans yearning for another historic moment.
This wasn't the first time Francis had seen his bid for history crumble. Eighteen days prior, the right-hander saw another no-hitter vanish following a ninth-inning home run by Taylor Ward of the Los Angeles Angels. Such near successes have cemented Francis's reputation as an emerging star in the league.
Displaying remarkable consistency, Francis has allowed zero or just one hit in four of his last six starts, each of them extended at least seven innings deep. He has conceded a paltry 12 hits over his last 43 innings pitched, a testament to his prowess on the mound.
Despite his extraordinary performance against the Mets, the game concluded on a sour note for Francis. The Mets bounced back robustly, turning the tide to secure a 6-2 victory. It was a pivotal win for the Mets, helping them maintain their grip on the third and final National League wild-card spot.
The sizeable gap between being on the verge of being no-hit through eight innings and ultimately winning the game has rarely been seen since 1990 when the White Sox turned around a near no-hit game against the Yankees.
Francis's eight innings against the Mets were characterized by an unusual level of finesse and efficiency, featuring only one strikeout. By contrast, his overall control and ability to induce weak contact have spotlighted him as a formidable pitcher to watch in upcoming games.
Interestingly, Francis’s near no-hitter bid could have etched his name in the 2024 MLB season record books as the fifth no-hitter. Just a week earlier, Shota Imanaga and two Chicago Cubs relievers combined to no-hit the Pittsburgh Pirates, highlighting a season of remarkable pitching performances.
The magnitude of Francis's near-misses emphasizes the unpredictable and often heart-wrenching nature of baseball. As he continues to develop, fans and opponents alike will be keeping a close eye on his every pitch.
For now, the wait for Toronto’s next no-hitter continues, but with Bowden Francis leading the charge, it seems less a matter of "if" and more a matter of "when."