BOSTON (AP) –
One outing after taking a no-hitter into the ninth, Bowden Francis held Boston hitless through 5 1/3 innings Thursday night in the Toronto Blue Jays’ 2-0 victory over the Red Sox.
Francis (8-3) faced the minimum through 5 1/3 innings, with the only baserunner coming when Jarren Duran reached on an error in the fourth. Duran was then thrown out trying to steal second.
The no-hit bid ended with one out in the sixth, when Nick Sogard blooped a soft single to center. Francis allowed just one hit in all, striking out five and walking none before leaving in the middle of the seventh with a with a 2-0 lead.
In his previous outing, Francis pitched eight no-hit innings against the Angels before allowing a solo homer to start the ninth.
“He was just in total control,” Blue Jays manager John Schneider said. “He’s got such a good way about …