Dylan Cease, a pitcher for the Toronto Blue Jays, was on the cusp of history on Wednesday as he took a no-hitter into the ninth inning against the San Francisco Giants. However, he fell three outs short when Heliot Ramos lined a single to center to open the frame, spoiling the Blue Jays’ chance at their first no-hitter since Dave Stieb in 1990.
Cease’s no-hit bid nearly ended in the top of the eighth, when rookie Bryce Eldridge drove a ball almost 400 feet to center. Fortunately for Cease, elite fly-catcher Dauton Varsho was on the case, making an incredible catch to preserve the no-hit bid.
Varsho’s impressive catch, which had an expected batting average of .770, showcased his Gold Glove-caliber skills. Cease, who was in pursuit of the second no-hitter of his career, twice touched 99 mph with his fastball in the eighth inning despite a rising pitch count.
Of Cease’s career-high 118 pitches, 81 went for strikes. He earned first-pitch strikes against the Giants 75% of the time on Wednesday, and Cease also earned 16 swings and misses, eight of which came on his slider. With that gem, Cease now boasts an ERA of 2.56 and an FIP of 2.20 across 17 starts in this, the first year of the $175 million free agent pact he signed with Toronto.
Cease has 148 strikeouts in 98 ⅓ innings this season, which is a testament to his dominance on the mound. His impressive performance raises the question of whether he will be the starter for the American League in the upcoming All-Star Game in Philadelphia. Blue Jays manager John Schneider will be making the call on who starts for the AL, but all signs point to Cease, who this season earned his first All-Star selection.
The Blue Jays’ win on Wednesday nudged them up to 44-49 on the year, putting them out of playoff position in the AL by just three games. Although they have been a disappointment thus far, the team’s recent victory gives them hope for the rest of the season.
Cease’s No-Hitter Bid Nearly Ends in the Top of the Eighth
The Blue Jays’ chances of securing a no-hitter were almost over in the top of the eighth, when rookie Bryce Eldridge drove a ball almost 400 feet to center. However, elite fly-catcher Dauton Varsho was on the case, making an incredible catch to preserve the no-hit bid.
Varsho’s Impressive Catch
Varsho’s catch, which had an expected batting average of .770, showcased his Gold Glove-caliber skills. The impressive catch nearly ended the no-hit bid, but Cease was able to continue his dominant performance on the mound.
Cease’s Dominance on the Mound
Cease has been one of the top pitchers in the league this season, with 148 strikeouts in 98 ⅓ innings. His impressive performance raises the question of whether he will be the starter for the American League in the upcoming All-Star Game in Philadelphia.
