Gavin Williams was two outs away from the Cleveland Guardians’ first no-hitter in 44 years as the visitors took down the New York Mets 4-1 to complete the sweep on Wednesday afternoon.
After striking out Francisco Lindor to open the bottom of the ninth inning, Williams’ no-hit bid was spoiled when Juan Soto belted a solo home run to dead center.
Williams (7-4) struck out six and walked four before he was removed after throwing 126 pitches over 8 2/3 innings. Hunter Gaddis recorded the final out for his second save of the season.
Williams was attempting to become the first Cleveland player to throw a no-hitter since Len Barker tossed a perfect game against the Toronto Blue Jays on May 15, 1981, a span of 6,987 games.
Williams was at 75 pitches through five innings, 89 through six, 97 through seven and 111 through eight. His season high was 109 pitches on May 26 against the Los Angeles Dodgers.
David Fry and Angel Martinez each homered for the Guardians, who have won seven of eight.
New York left-hander David Peterson (7-5) allowed four runs and five hits in six innings. He struck out seven and walked two in his first loss since June 27.
The Mets have lost four in a row and eight of nine to fall out of first place in the National League East.
Peterson sped through an eight-pitch first inning, but Fry jumped on a 1-2 fastball to lead off the second and homered deep over the fence in left-center field for a 1-0 lead.
Steven Kwan singled up the middle on an 0-2 pitch to start the third for the Guardians. Martinez then turned on a slider and lined it over the fence in left for a two-run homer, snapping an 0-for-19 skid and giving Cleveland a 3-0 advantage.
Carlos Santana walked with two outs in the sixth for Cleveland, and Gabriel Arias tripled into the right-center field gap to score Santana for a 4-0 lead.
Williams knocked down a line drive back to the mound by Lindor in the first and then threw him out. He then caught a soft line drive back to him from Pete Alonso to end the inning.
Williams walked Brandon Nimmo on seven pitches to lead off the second. While a wild pitch over the head of Mark Vientos moved Nimmo to second, the Mets stranded runners on the corners.
Cleveland right fielder C.J. Kayfus made a diving catch off the bat of Vientos with one out in the seventh to keep the no-hitter intact.
–Field Level Media
