Bowden Francis Comes Close to No-Hit Bid Twice in Four Starts

Toronto Blue Jays right-hander Bowden Francis experienced a heart-wrenching outcome for the second time in his last four starts, narrowly missing a no-hit bid once more. The 27-year-old pitcher took his impressive form to the mound on a memorable night against the New York Mets, only to have his dream shattered by a single swing from Francisco Lindor.

Francis showcased his remarkable talent through eight hitless innings, keeping Mets hitters off balance and retiring the side on just six pitches in the eighth inning. Yet it was in the ninth inning, with history within his grasp, that Lindor’s leadoff home run ended Francis's aspirations of joining the elite list of no-hit pitchers.

The Blue Jays' faithful watched in anticipation as Francis delivered a masterclass in pitching. Having already come devastatingly close to a no-hitter eighteen days earlier, Francis surely felt the weight of the potential achievement. His previous near-miss also ended in heartbreak, when Taylor Ward of the Los Angeles Angels blasted a ninth-inning home run, denying Francis his place in the annals of baseball lore.

Despite the tough ending, Francis's performance against the Mets was nothing short of extraordinary. Across his last six starts, Francis has consistently flirted with greatness, allowing zero or merely one hit in four of those outings, each stretching at least seven innings. His statistics over the last 43 innings are astonishing, conceding just 12 hits and demonstrating astonishing control, as he managed to face the prolific Mets lineup with only one strikeout in his eight innings of dominance.

The Blue Jays have been starved for a no-hitter since September 2, 1990, when Dave Stieb etched his name into franchise history. Over three decades later, Francis came tantalizingly close to emulating Stieb, only for Lindor's homer to prolong the drought. The anticipation that built up over those hitless innings reminded many of Stieb’s moment, but once again, it wasn't to be.

For Francis, the personal disappointment was compounded by the team’s eventual 6-2 loss to the Mets. The victory was crucial for New York, bolstering their hold on the third and final National League wild-card spot. With such high stakes, the Mets' ability to break through in the ninth inning was pivotal not only for the game but potentially for their season.

Although the no-hit bid ultimately fell short, Francis’s run has solidified his status as one of the game’s exciting young pitchers to watch. The fact that he went so deep into games with such low hit totals repeatedly is a testament to his skill and tenacity. This resilience and ability to maintain focus under pressure point to a promising future for the right-hander.

A broader look at the season shows how exceptional Francis's near-achievement was. His potential no-hitter would have been the fifth of the 2024 MLB season. Just a week prior to Francis’s near-miss, Shota Imanaga and two Chicago Cubs relievers had combined to no-hit the Pittsburgh Pirates, underscoring how rare and precious such feats are.

Even with the bitter sting of his near misses, Bowden Francis remains undeterred. His string of extraordinary performances has caught the eyes of baseball enthusiasts and experts alike. Continuing on this trajectory, Francis is poised to keep fans at the edge of their seats and could very well achieve the milestone that has so narrowly eluded him.