Mets 6 Blue Jays 2
Bowden Francis went eight no-hit innings, and then Francisco Lindor hit an 0-2 pitch out of the park. That was one of the best starts we are ever going to see. Bowden seems to have lost a couple of mph off his fastball, but he was brilliant.
Francis is having an amazing time of it lately. He takes his second no-hitter into the ninth inside of a month.
I think we can write his name pen for the rotation next year.
Sportsnet had a graphic up showing Jays pitchers who carried a no-hitter into the sixth inning in one season. Only five guys have done it three times: Francis, Marco Estrada, Brandon Morrow, Woody Williams, and Dave Stieb. That is a good group to be in. He has three or four more starts to set a new team record with four.
After he leaves the game, Chad Green comes in and gets an easy ground ball for short, but as has happened three times in the last week, first base is overthrown for a two-base error (that is what it was, our official scorer called it a . I don’t know why I keep watching this.
Green walked the next two batters, putting the go-ahead run on third. A fly ball to deep right, and the Mets have the lead. Another walk loads the bases again. Another sac fly, and we are down two.
Two outs, down two, Genesis Cabrera comes in and gives up a home run. 6-1.
Our Jays only managed six hits on the day. Two for Ernie Clement. One each for Vlad, Springer, Addison Barger and Luis De La Santo.
We got our first run in the fourth. Singles by Vlad and Clement, plus a walk to Will Wagner, loaded the bases with no outs. Vlad scored on a Davis Schneider’s ground out. A Luis De Los Santos strikeout and Joey Loperfido flyout ended the inning.
Sean Manaea was also excellent. He went 6.2 innings, allowing just three hits and one run with four walks and eight strikeouts.
We did make some noise in the ninth against Ryne Stanek. Daulton Varsho started it with a walk. Spencer Horwitz ground out to move him to second. Loperfido popped out to left. But Barger singled, bringing home a run. Springer singled. But the Mets brought in Edwin Diaz to get the last out.
We did get some good defense. Nathan Lukes seemed to be a magnet for Mets’ fly balls, and some catches weren’t easy. Davis Schneider made a terrific catch at the wall in left. Vlad had a nice catcher on two-liners hit toward him.
Jays of the Day: Francis (.236 WPA).
The Other Award: Green (-.425) and Loperfido (-.094).
All the batters could share another ‘Other’ award.
No game tomorrow. I think we all need a rest after the last few days.