Bowden Francis struck out a career-high 12 batters in a strong performance for the Toronto Blue Jays, carrying a no-hitter into the ninth inning of a 3-1 win over the Los Angeles Angels on Saturday.
Francis (7-3) walked three and hit one batter, earning his third straight victory. He threw a career-high 117 pitches, with 84 strikes.
“It was his game until he gave up a hit,” said Toronto manager John Schneider.
Francis’s no-hit attempt ended when Taylor Ward hit a 3-2 fastball deep to center for a leadoff homer in the ninth. It was Ward’s 17th home run of the season.
“I wasn’t scared at all,” Francis said. “I was just trying to attack. It was one of those things that didn’t go my way, but I felt like I was in attack mode and he put a good swing on it.”
The 34,011 fans gave Francis a standing ovation as he left the game, with right-hander Chad Green coming in to earn his 14th save. Francis was moved by the crowd’s reaction.
“That was huge,” he said. “I have chills now. The crowd here is one of the best.”
The 28-year-old Francis was named American League Player of the Week last week after going 2-0 with a 0.64 ERA in two starts. In one of those games, he pitched seven innings in a win over the Angels on August 12.
“I feel very proud of him right now,” said Blue Jays slugger Vladimir Guerrero Jr. through a translator. “The last four or five outings he’s been incredible. Today was unbelievable.”
Francis is 3-0 with a 0.82 ERA and 27 strikeouts in his last three starts.
“You’ve got to give credit to the kid; he almost threw a no-hitter, but I’m glad he didn’t,” said Angels manager Ron Washington. “We couldn’t get a solid hit off him.”
It was the longest no-hit bid by a Blue Jays pitcher since Brandon Morrow’s 8 2/3 hitless innings against Tampa Bay on August 8, 2010. Dave Stieb pitched the only no-hitter in franchise history at Cleveland on September 2, 1990.
