Aug 24, 2024; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Blue Jays beginning pitcher Bowden Francis (44) pitches to the Los Angeles Angels through the ninth inning at Rogers Centre. Necessary Credit score: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports activities After carrying a no-hitter into the ninth inning of his final begin, Bowden Francis will take the mound for the Toronto Blue Jays within the finale of a four-game sequence in opposition to the host Boston Pink Sox on Thursday.
Francis (7-3, 4.02 ERA) held the Los Angeles Angels hitless for eight innings in a 3-1 Toronto win on Saturday, shedding his bid for the second no-hitter in Blue Jays historical past on Taylor Ward’s leadoff homer within the ninth.
The 28-year-old notched a career-high 12 strikeouts en path to his third straight win and can goal to proceed the streak in his first profession begin in opposition to Boston, which has gained back-to-back video games within the sequence after a 3-0 win Wednesday.
Francis has three profession reduction appearances in opposition to the Pink Sox, tossing 2 2/3 scoreless innings.
“He is battled for lots of years and has gotten up to now, so I did not need to take something away from him,” Blue Jays supervisor John Schneider stated, reflecting on Francis’ final outing. “(Pitching coach) Pete (Walker) and I have been on the identical web page. It was his till he gave up successful.”
Francis has labored 22 innings throughout his previous three begins, going 3-0 whereas placing out 27 and permitting simply 5 hits, two runs and three walks.
He gave up 12 runs in his first 8 1/3 frames of the season — his first two profession begins.
“Everyone knows that firstly of the season, issues weren’t going his approach,” Blue Jays star Vladimir Guerrero Jr. stated. “The final 4 or 5 outings, he is been unimaginable. (Saturday) was unbelievable.”
Boston acquired its personal stellar pitching efficiency on Wednesday, as Brayan Bello labored eight innings for the primary time in his profession, permitting simply two hits and one stroll whereas placing out 9.
The Blue Jays have been shut down by Bello of their second loss after a five-game win streak, although Addison Barger’s double moved his hitting streak to 6 straight video games. The group’s streak of 16 video games in a row with a house run got here to an finish, nevertheless.
After Bello capped his sensational evening, Tyler O’Neill delivered a clutch two-run residence run within the backside of the eighth — his fifth in 9 video games this season in opposition to Toronto — to provide the Pink Sox insurance coverage.
In any other case, Wilyer Abreu’s first-inning RBI single stood tall.
“That was enjoyable to observe,” Pink Sox supervisor Alex Cora stated. “(Bello’s) greatest outing within the massive leagues. In opposition to a group that has given him bother, he was capable of hold them off steadiness.”
Trying to observe up Bello’s dominant outing will likely be Kutter Crawford (8-11, 4.19), who has tough-luck losses in his previous two begins. He allowed simply 5 runs on 5 hits over a mixed 10 1/3 innings in opposition to Arizona and Baltimore.
Crawford held the Diamondbacks to 5 innings of two-run ball on Saturday. The road appears stable, nevertheless it was not sufficient for the righty himself.
“For essentially the most half, I felt like I competed fairly nicely — each single pitch. I simply wasn’t within the zone sufficient,” he stated.
Crawford is 1-1 with a 4.26 ERA in 5 appearances (4 begins) in opposition to Toronto.
Earlier than Wednesday, the one different Boston starter to pitch a minimum of eight innings this season was Tanner Houck in an April 17 shutout of Cleveland.
The Pink Sox have totaled 13 shutouts, tied for essentially the most in MLB.
–Area Degree Media
