Sept. 12 – Francisco Lindor ended Bowden Francis’ no-hitter with his first homer on Wednesday afternoon, driving in six runs in the ninth inning as the visiting New York Mets beat the Toronto Blue Jays, 6–2.
It was the second time in four games that Francis lost a no-hitter on his first home run in the ninth inning.
On August 24, Los Angeles Angels left fielder Taylor Ward hit Francis in the bottom of the ninth inning in Toronto.
The Blue Jays’ only no-hitter was pitched by Dave Stieb on September 2, 1990 in Cleveland.
Francisco Alvarez hit a three-run homer in the Mets’ explosive ninth, as New York (80-66) won the rubber game of a three-game series with Toronto (69-78).
Francis took a 1-0 lead into the ninth, but was taken out after Lindor hit his 31st home run of the season to right field. The right-hander threw 111 pitches in eight innings, walking one, striking out one and striking out two batters.
Chad Green replaced Francis, allowing hits to the first three batters and Pete Alonso’s sacrifice fly to give the Mets a 2–1 lead.
J.D. Martinez followed with a double before Starlin Marte flew out to track down Eddie Alvarez (4-6).
Francisco Álvarez loaded the bases on Genesis Cabrera’s first pitch, his seventh homer, to give New York a 6–1 lead.
Mets left-hander Sean Manaea allowed one run, three hits and four walks with eight strikeouts in 6 2/3 innings.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Ernie Clement hit singles off Manaea’s first two pitches in the fourth inning.
Will Wagner loaded the bases and then hit third on a fielder’s choice grounder by Davis Schneider for the game’s first run.
In the sixth inning, Schneider blocked Harrison Bader’s hit with a leaping strike to left field.
Danny Young (4-0) was eliminated in the home quarter-finals.
Ryne Stanek drove in a run on a two-out RBI single off pinch-hitter Addison Barger for Toronto in the ninth.
After George Springer’s infield hit, Edwin Díaz retired Nathan Luke on a pitch and completed his 18th save.
Toronto shortstop Leo Jimenez (sore foot) was ruled out late Wednesday.
——Visual-level media
