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.
The 34,011 spectators then gave Francis a standing ovation as he was replaced by right-hander Chad Green, who made his 14th save in 14 chances.
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 he pitched seven innings in a road win over the Angels on Aug. 12.
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 won their sixth consecutive meeting with the Angels.
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.
Trainer room
Angels: 1B Nolan Schanuel will sit out the final two games of the series against the Blue Jays because of back pain, manager Ron Washington said, adding that he wants to keep Schanuel off Toronto’s artificial turf. The Angels have Monday off. … OF Mickey Moniak was not named to the starting lineup for the second straight game. Moniak left Thursday’s game in the third inning after being hit by a pitch on the left elbow.
Next
RHP Kevin Gausman (11-9, 4.24 ERA) is scheduled to start for the Blue Jays in the final game of the series on Sunday against Angels LHP Tyler Anderson (10-11, 3.46 ERA).
