UPDATE: In a heart-stopping finish, Gavin Williams of the Cleveland Guardians narrowly missed achieving the team’s first no-hitter in 44 years, allowing a home run to Juan Soto in the ninth inning, resulting in a 4-1 victory over the New York Mets on Wednesday.
With just two outs remaining, Williams struck out Francisco Lindor, before Soto’s homer sailed just over the outstretched glove of center fielder Angel Martinez. This thrilling moment not only ended Williams’ bid for glory but also highlighted the Guardians’ ongoing struggle with no-hitters, extending their drought to a staggering 7,115 games, dating back to May 15, 1981.
In a commanding performance, Williams (7-4) recorded six strikeouts and walked three batters, throwing an impressive 126 pitches—the most in the majors since Alex Cobb tossed 131 pitches during a one-hitter on August 29, 2023. After retiring Pete Alonso, Williams exited the game after issuing his third walk to Brandon Nimmo.
The Guardians capitalized early, with David Fry hitting a home run in the second inning against David Peterson (7-5). Angel Martinez followed suit with a two-run homer in the third, and Gabriel Arias added an RBI triple in the sixth, setting the tone for the game.
Despite their loss, the Mets managed to avoid being no-hit for the ninth time in franchise history, marking a rough stretch where they have lost eight of their last nine games. Hunter Gaddis secured the win by getting Mark Vientos to fly out, earning his second save of the season.
This near-no-hitter has reignited excitement among Guardians fans and underscores the team’s potential as they continue their season. As the Guardians look ahead, all eyes will be on Williams and the pitching staff to see if they can finally break the long-standing no-hitter drought.
With the Guardians sweeping the Mets, they remain a team to watch as they aim to build on this momentum. Stay tuned for updates on Williams and the Guardians’ upcoming games as they continue their pursuit of excellence on the field.
