MLB is still seeking its first no-hitter of the 2025 season.
Cleveland Guardians starter Gavin Williams threw 8 1/3 no-hit innings against the New York Mets on Wednesday and had the green light to go all the way despite having the highest pitch count of the MLB season.
But Juan Soto spoiled the party. The Mets slugger hit a deep fly ball to center field on a 1-0 fastball that Williams left over the plate. Centerfielder Angel Martinez gave chase and made a play on the ball at the wall. But the ball snuck over his glove and just over the wall for a home run before bouncing back into the field of play.
The home run was Soto's 26th of the season and stood as New York's only run of the day as Cleveland held on for a 4-1 victory.
MLB is still seeking its first solo no-hitter since Blake Snell no-hit the Cincinnati Reds on Aug. 2, 2024 while pitching for the San Francisco Giants. Three Chicago Cubs pitchers combined to no-hit the Pittsburgh Pirates on Sept. 4 of last season.
Williams finished the eighth inning having already thrown a career-high 111 pitches. But Guardians manager Stephen Vogt didn't hesitate to send him back out for the ninth to face the top of the Mets order.
Vogt struck out Francisco Lindor to lead off the inning before Soto's home run ended the bid. Vogt didn't get the last out, but he finished the game with the win, having thrown 8 2/3 innings with six strikeouts, four walks issued and the single hit allowed to Soto. He threw 126 pitches.
The effort lowered Williams' ERA to 3.17 for the season, which would stand as the best of his three-season MLB career.
The Guardians are still seeking their first no-hitter since Len Barker threw a perfect game against the Toronto Blue Jays in 1981.
Comments