One game after taking a no-hitter into the ninth inning, Bowden Francis kept the Boston Red Sox hitless for 5 1/3 innings on Thursday night as the Toronto Blue Jays won 2-0.
Francis (8-3) faced the minimum number of batters through 5 1/3 innings. The only runner reached base when Jarren Duran got on due to an error in the fourth inning, but Duran was thrown out trying to steal second base.
The no-hit streak ended with one out in the sixth when Nick Sogard got a soft single to center field. Francis allowed only one hit in total, striking out five and walking none before leaving in the middle of the seventh with a 2-0 lead.
In his previous game, Francis pitched eight no-hit innings against the Angels before giving up a solo home run to start the ninth.
“He was just in total control,” Blue Jays manager John Schneider said. “He’s got such a good way about him — mentally, physically, execution-wise. His pitch mix is awesome. Not much more to say other than that. He’s really (expletive) good right now.”
Francis said he didn’t feel as sharp as he did in his last outing against Los Angeles.
“I felt a little more fatigued warming up,” he said. “One of those days where you’ve got to really be sharp. It’s one of those outings where you’ve got to fight through it and be crafty.”
In his five starts in August, Francis has given up four runs in 34 innings, with an ERA of 1.06.
“I’m trying to go out there and win every game I’m pitching,” he said. “I think the numbers will take care of themselves if you’re thinking about the right stuff, going about your business the right way, and treating people the right way.
I think the universe has a way of unraveling things. It’s just something I’ve got to keep levelheaded about.”
Genesis Cabrera gave up one hit in the eighth inning, and Chad Green pitched the ninth. After hitting Mickey Gasper with a pitch, Green got Tyler O’Neill out with a grounder to shortstop to earn his 16th save and complete the two-hit shutout.
