TORONTO – Bowden Francis posted a career-high 12 strikeouts in a dominant performance for the Toronto Blue Jays and managed a no-hitter until the ninth inning of a 3-1 victory over the Los Angeles Angels on Saturday.
Francis (7-3) managed three walks and a hit batter in his third straight win. He threw a career-high 117 pitches, including 84 strikes.
Francis was working on a no-hitter before Taylor Ward hit a 3-2 fastball deep to center in the ninth inning for a leadoff home run. It was Ward’s 17th home run of the season.
“I would say I found a second gear in the eighth inning,” Francis said in his postgame on-field interview on Sportsnet, acknowledging that the fans were clearly cheering him on. “And when I went out in the ninth inning, I felt all of you for sure.”
The 34,011 spectators gave Francis a standing ovation as he was replaced by right-hander Chad Green, who made his 14th save in 14 chances.
“Having the defense behind me gave me the confidence I needed,” Francis said. “I just tried to stay in attack mode and stay in that flow state, but in moments like these it’s hard to stay that way.”
Francis, 28, was named American League Player of the Week last week after going 2-0 with a 0.64 ERA in two starts, the first of which saw him pitch seven innings in a road win over the Angels on Aug. 12. After the win, when questions arose about how long Francis would stay on the mound, Toronto manager John Schneider said the game was “his until he allowed a hit.”
“You have to take your hat off to the kid. He almost threw a no-hitter, but I’m glad he didn’t,” Angels manager Ron Washington said. “We couldn’t get him in the middle.”
Dave Stieb threw the only no-hitter in Blue Jays history on September 2, 1990 in Cleveland.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. hit his 27th home run as the Blue Jays recorded their sixth consecutive win over the Angels.
“I’m very proud of him right now,” Guerrero said of Francis through an interpreter. “The last four or five missions he’s been incredible. Today was incredible.”
Angels right-hander Carson Fulmer (0-5) allowed two runs and seven hits in six innings. He struck out eight times and walked two.
Toronto’s Daulton Varsho hit a single in the first inning and moved to third base on Fulmer’s throwing error. Guerrero followed with an RBI double and later got one out on Joey Loperfido’s double.
Guerrero extended Toronto’s lead with a home run against Victor Mederos in the eighth inning.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
