Bowden Francis went eight innings without a hit on Wednesday, but the New York Mets broke the spell with a 6-2 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays.
Francisco Lindor hit a long home run as the Mets’ leadoff hitter in the ninth.
The ball of his 31e cannon shot crossed 398 feet.
Francis needed just six shots to settle the eighth, including two shots for the first two outs.
He totaled 111 shots, leaving with the score 1-1.
“I felt like I had a good game plan,” Francis said. “I just tried to stick to it.”
“He was a high-revving player,” Mets manager Carlos Mendoza added. “He didn’t throw the most explosive fastballs, but he was accurate enough that the balls didn’t get hit too hard.”
After Lindor’s long ball, Francis was replaced by Chad Green (4-6), who allowed sacrifice flies to Pete Alonso and Starling Marte.
Francisco Alvarez expanded the cushion with a three-run homer off Genesis Cabrera.
Danny Young (4-0) got the last out of the eighth, then Edwin Diaz had an 18e rescue.
It was the second time in four starts that Francis went into the ninth with a no-hitter.
Hope ended again with a home run by the leadoff hitter in the ninth inning.
On August 24, Taylor Ward of the Los Angeles Angels hit a home run in a 3-1 Blue Jays win.
The only no-hitter in Jays history was Dave Stieb’s September 2, 1990, no-hitter in Cleveland.
Francis hit two batters and allowed a walk, the latter with two outs in the fifth.
Francis was the American League’s Most Outstanding Pitcher for August, going 4-1 with a 1.05 ERA.
His performance was one of the highlights of the Blue Jays’ disappointing season, which saw their record slip to 69-78.
“I feel like I have a chance right now,” Francis said. “I’m trying to make the most of it. I’m going to continue to trust my shots and trust the people around me.”
The Toronto club’s points came from a single by Addison Barger and an optional by Davis Schneider.
A left fielder, Schneider made a great catch jumping the fence in the sixth off Harrison Bader.
The game took place in front of 29,399 fans at the Rogers Centre.
The Mets have a one-game lead over Atlanta in the race for the final playoff spot in the National League.
The Braves lost 5-1 in Washington.
The Mets will play in Philadelphia from Friday to Sunday.
The Braves will then host the Los Angeles Dodgers – division leaders, like the Phillies.