Gavin Williams Nearly Achieves No-Hitter in Guardians’ Victory

Cleveland’s rookie pitcher Gavin Williams came agonizingly close to throwing the franchise’s first no-hitter in 44 years, falling just two outs short during a game against the New York Mets on Wednesday. The Guardians triumphed with a score of 4-1, marking a three-game sweep over the struggling Mets.

Williams, now with a record of 7-4, showcased a stellar performance, walking three batters and striking out six, including Francisco Lindor at the start of the ninth inning. However, with one out remaining, Juan Soto connected for a home run, ending the potential no-hitter and sending the ball just out of reach of center fielder Angel Martinez.

The last time the Guardians managed a no-hitter was on May 15, 1981, when Len Barker pitched a perfect game. The team’s current no-hitter drought stands at an impressive 7,115 games, a record length in Major League Baseball.

Williams, the first player on the field in the ninth inning, had no one warming up in the bullpen. Following Soto’s home run, he retired Pete Alonso on a fly ball but exited the game after issuing a walk to Brandon Nimmo, marking his third walk of the day. He threw a total of 126 pitches, surpassing his previous career high by 17 and setting a new mark for the most pitches thrown in the majors since Alex Cobb managed 131 pitches in a one-hitter for the San Francisco Giants on August 29, 2023.

The Guardians’ offense contributed significantly, starting with David Fry, who hit a home run in the second inning against David Peterson, who now holds a record of 7-5. Angel Martinez followed with a two-run homer in the third, and Gabriel Arias added an RBI triple in the sixth inning.

As for the Mets, this loss marked their eighth in the last nine games, exacerbating their struggles during the season.

Key moments defined the game, particularly Soto’s home run, which prevented the Mets from suffering the indignity of being no-hit for the ninth time in franchise history.

Looking ahead, the Mets will travel for a matchup against the Milwaukee Brewers on Friday, where Kodai Senga (7-3, 2.31 ERA) is set to pitch against Brandon Woodruff (3-0, 2.22 ERA). Meanwhile, the Guardians will continue their road trip, with Tanner Bibee (7-9, 4.51 ERA) taking the mound against Aaron Civale of the Chicago White Sox (3-6, 3.99 ERA).

The Guardians’ near-miss with a no-hitter and the Mets’ continued struggles underline the dynamic nature of the current MLB season, keeping fans engaged as the games unfold.