Francis's Heartbreak: Near No-Hitter Slips Away Yet Again
Toronto Blue Jays right-hander Bowden Francis once again found himself on the cusp of baseball immortality, only to have a no-hit bid slip through his fingers in the final moments. For the second time in his last four starts, Francis saw his pursuit of a no-hitter dashed by a late-game home run.
On this occasion, it was Francisco Lindor of the New York Mets who delivered the heart-wrenching blow. After eight immaculate innings, Francis was just three outs away from etching his name in the annals of baseball history. Lindor, however, crushed those dreams with a leadoff home run in the ninth inning. Despite the challenging setback, Francis remained composed, retiring the side in just six pitches during an impressive eighth inning.
Reflecting on the near-miss, it’s notable that Francis's eight innings featured only one strikeout. His performance was a testament to his control and ability to navigate through the Mets' lineup while keeping hitters off balance. Despite the disappointment, Francis can take solace in his extraordinary form over recent weeks.
A mere eighteen days earlier, Francis experienced a similar heartbreak when he lost another no-hitter in the ninth inning to a home run by Taylor Ward of the Los Angeles Angels. His recent outings have caught the attention of fans and analysts alike. In four of his last six starts, he has allowed zero or just one hit, consistently pitching at least seven innings each time. Over his last 43 innings pitched, Francis has conceded a mere 12 hits, demonstrating his dominance on the mound.
The Mets capitalized on their late-game fortune to secure a 6-2 victory, an outcome that helped them maintain their grip on the third and final National League wild-card spot. Their victory also marked the largest gap by a team being no-hit through eight innings since the 1990 Chicago White Sox against the New York Yankees. This historical context adds another layer of intrigue to Francis's near-success.
Should Francis have completed his no-hitter, it would have been the fifth of the 2024 MLB season, following a combined no-hitter by Shota Imanaga and two Chicago Cubs relievers against the Pittsburgh Pirates just a week prior. The Blue Jays themselves haven’t celebrated a no-hitter since Dave Stieb’s memorable performance on September 2, 1990, more than three decades ago. Stieb's achievement remains a cherished memory for Blue Jays fans, underlining the rarity and significance of what Francis nearly accomplished.
Despite the outcome, Bowden Francis's remarkable consistency and performance on the mound have positioned him as a standout pitcher to watch. As the Blue Jays continue their campaign, all eyes will surely be on Francis to see if he can finally achieve what has so narrowly eluded him this season. Each pitch, each inning brings the anticipation and excitement of possibly witnessing history in the making.