TORONTO – Bowden Francis failed in his attempt to throw a no-hitter when Taylor Ward opened the ninth inning with a solo home run, but the Toronto Blue Jays defeated the Los Angeles Angels 3-1 on Saturday.
Francis set a career-high with 12 strikeouts over eight innings in his 117-pitch performance. After eight innings, Francis had thrown 111 pitches, 16 more than his career high.
On August 12, he also had just one hit in seven innings against the Angels in Anaheim, California.
However, Ward’s 17th home run marked the end for Francis as Chad Green recorded his 14th save.
The only no-hitter in Blue Jays history was by Dave Stieb in 1990.
The Blue Jays (62-68) defeated the Angels (54-77) for the sixth consecutive time in the last 12 days. Los Angeles has the second-fewest win total in the American League behind the Chicago White Sox’s 31 victories.
Similar Videos
The 28-year-old Francis (7-3) continues to fight for a spot in the rotation in 2025.
Get the latest national news
Sign up for breaking news alerts delivered straight to you as news breaks from Canada and around the world.
His career highs so far were eight strikeouts, seven innings and 95 pitches.
The Tallahassee, Florida, native, who rides an electric bike to and from Rogers Centre, began his outing by striking out the first four Angels. Francis allowed a one-out walk to Matt Thaiss and a two-out walk to Jo Adell in the second inning.
He also hit Ward in the third inning. But Ward was knocked out on an inning-ending double play. Francis later walked Anthony Rendon in the seventh inning.
The Blue Jays got all the runs they needed in the opening inning. With one out, Daulton Varsho’s dribble down the first-base line forced a throwing error by Angels starter Carson Fulmer (0-5).
Varsho extended his on-base streak to 22 games and landed on third base when the Angels recovered the miss.
He scored on Vladimir Guerrero Jr.’s double down the left field line. Guerrero scored on Joey Loperfido’s double into the right field corner.
Loperfido, who hit the tying home run in the ninth inning on Friday, stayed hot in the third inning with a double off the center field wall in right field, but missed the field by inches.
In that game, Spencer Horwitz was thrown out at home by a perfect relay from infielder and former Blue Jay Brandon Drury.
Guerrero hit his 27th home run into center field to open the eighth inning in front of 34,011 spectators at the Rogers Centre, making it his team’s best home run.
Fulmer pitched six innings, allowing two runs on six hits and two walks with six strikeouts.
EXTRA PEACE
Before the game, Blue Jays manager John Schneider announced that he might soon resort to a six-starter rotation to give Kevin Gausman, Jose Berrios, Chris Bassitt, Yariel Rodriguez and Francis an extra day off.
ON DECK
Gausman (11-9) will start the finale of the four-game series on Sunday. The Angels will counter with left-hander Tyler Anderson (10-11).
This report by The Canadian Press was first published August 24, 2024.
© 2024 The Canadian Press
