Bowden Francis pitches no-hitter for Blue Jays against Mets

On Wednesday, Bowden Francis of the Toronto Blue Jays achieved a remarkable feat by not allowing a hit through eight innings against the New York Mets. During this performance, he walked one batter, struck out another, and hit two batters with pitches, while throwing a total of 108 pitches, 65 of which were strikes. The Blue Jays held a narrow 1-0 lead at the time, showcasing the importance of Francis's pitching in maintaining that advantage. Throughout the game, Francis faced several challenges, including a deep drive from Harrison Bader in the sixth inning that was caught at the wall by Davis Schneider. Other notable defensive plays included Vladimir Guerrero Jr. catching a line drive and a soft liner from Jose Iglesias. These moments highlighted the support Francis received from his teammates, which was crucial in preserving the no-hitter. This performance follows a previous near-no-hitter by Francis against the Los Angeles Angels, where he allowed a hit in the ninth inning. His recent success earned him the title of AL pitcher of the month for August, reflecting his impressive statistics of 4-1 with a 1.05 ERA and 39 strikeouts in six appearances. The achievement of a no-hitter is rare, with only four occurring in Major League Baseball this season. The Mets have a history of being no-hit, with their last occurrence in 2015. If Francis completes the no-hitter, he would join the ranks of notable pitchers in Blue Jays history, following Dave Stieb's historic no-hitter in 1990.