Bowden Francis came agonizingly close to etching his name in Toronto Blue Jays history on Saturday afternoon at Rogers Centre.
Francis delivered a masterful performance, tossing eight flawless innings in Toronto’s 3-1 victory over the Los Angeles Angels. With 12 strikeouts and only three walks on a career-high 112 pitches, he was on the cusp of securing the Blue Jays’ second-ever no-hitter.
However, the dream was shattered in the ninth inning when Angels’ left fielder Taylor Ward blasted a solo home run, ending Francis’ bid for history. Despite the setback, the Angels avoided being no-hit for the first time in over two decades.
After the home run, Francis was replaced on the mound to a thunderous ovation from the crowd. Reliever Chad Green secured the final outs to seal the Blue Jays’ victory.
The Blue Jays’ lone no-hitter was achieved by Dave Stieb in 1990, making Francis’s near-miss all the more heartbreaking. The team has come close on several occasions since then, with the most recent near-miss occurring in 2010.
Despite the disappointment of falling short of a no-hitter, the Blue Jays cruised past the Angels on Saturday, extending their winning streak to five out of the last seven games. Vladimir Guerrero Jr.’s stellar performance at the plate played a crucial role in the victory.
The win improved the Blue Jays’ record to 62-68 for the season, while the Angels continue to struggle with a 54-76 record.