Toronto Blue Jays right-hander Bowden Francis has been outstanding since joining the starting rotation last month, and he’ll try to stay on a roll when he takes the mound against the Texas Rangers on Wednesday in Arlington, Texas.
Francis (8-4, 3.50 ERA) is 4-1 in his past seven starts with a 1.50 ERA. During that span, he became the second pitcher since Nolan Ryan in 1989 to lose two no-hit bids in the ninth inning in the same season.
“I just feel like I’m getting my shot now and I’m trying to make the most of it,” Francis said. “I’m trusting my stuff and trusting the people around me.”
Francis carried a no-hitter into the ninth inning of his most recent start last Wednesday against the New York Mets, but surrendered a leadoff home run to Francisco Lindor that tied the score at 1.
Francis departed and the bullpen surrendered five more runs in the inning before New York eventually won 6-2.
Francis lost his other no-hit bid on a leadoff home run in the ninth by Taylor Ward of the Los Angeles Angels on Aug. 24, but Toronto (72-79) held on to win 3-1.
“What I love about him is that he’s had a really good stretch, but he’s not backing off,” Toronto manager John Schneider said. “He’s not backing off of anything he’s doing in between starts. He’s not letting his guard down or thinking that he’s got things figured out. That’s the biggest thing I love about him.”
Francis said he’s always felt like he belonged in the majors leagues, even when others didn’t.
“A lot of guys lost hope early on this year,” he said. “I didn’t. That’s how things go, everyone says, ‘What have you done for me lately?'”
Francis has made four relief appearances against the Rangers in his career and is 0-0 with 1.29 ERA over seven innings.
Cody Bradford is set to start on Wednesday for the Rangers.
Bradford (5-3, 3.97) is coming off his worst start of the season, allowing eight runs and nine hits in 3 2/3 innings of a 14-4 loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks last Wednesday.
Still, Bradford has been the Rangers’ best starter this season.
“Cody has been so good,” Texas manager Bruce Bochy said. “You’re going to have an off-day and that’s what it was. He wasn’t quite as sharp.”
Bradford has made one relief appearance against Toronto in his career, earning the win last season after throwing 2 2/3 shutout innings in a 9-2 victory.
The Rangers won the opener of the three-game series 13-8 on Monday evening.
Wyatt Langford homered, doubled twice and scored three times, Leody Taveras had a two-run homer and two singles, Adolis Garcia had two hits and three RBIs and Jacob Heim had two hits and two RBIs for the Rangers (72-79), who ended a three-game skid.
“It’s really important to finish on a strong note, so I’m going to keep trying to do that,” Langford said. “Last homestand, the last time these fans get to see us play, so just coming out here trying to win and trying to play hard every day.”
–Field Level Media