No-Canada! Mariners’ Paxton pitches no-hitter in Toronto
TORONTO » James Paxton of the Seattle Mariners became the first Canadian to pitch a no-hitter in his home country, shutting down the Toronto Blue Jays 5-0 Tuesday night.
Paxton joined Dick Fowler of the 1945 Philadelphia Athletics as the only Canadians to throw a no-hitter.
Paxton, who’s from British Columbia, pointed to a giant tattoo on his right forearm of a maple leaf — a national symbol of Canada — as he celebrated to a standing ovation at Rogers Centre.
“Of all places, to do it pretty amazing,” he said.
“The fans were great. They were giving me some trouble in the seventh inning, but once I got past that, they started kind of cheering me on. It was cool,” he said.
The 29-year-old lefty nicknamed “The Big Maple” threw 99 pitches in tossing the third no-hitter in the majors this year — all three have come in different countries.
Oakland’s Sean Manaea pitched one against Boston on April 21 in California. Four Los Angeles Dodgers combined to nohit San Diego in Mexico last Friday.
Coming off a career-high 16 strikeouts in his last start, Paxton (2-1) was electric once again, hitting 100 mph with his fastball while retiring Josh Donaldson on a grounder to end it.
Paxton struck out seven, walked three and benefited from an outstanding play by third baseman Kyle Seager. With two outs in the seventh, the former Gold Glover made a full-length diving stop on speedy Kevin Pillar’s grounder down the line, then slung an off-balance throw that first baseman Ryon Healy snagged on one hop.
Russell Martin led off the Toronto eighth with a long drive that left fielder Ben Gamel caught near the wall.
“What a defense tonight. That was amazing. Those guys were making every play,” Paxton said. YANKEES 3, RED SOX 2 » Giancarlo Stanton homered twice, Aaron Judge hit a tiebreaking single off Yankees enemy Joe Kelly and in Toronto, it’s New York edged rival Boston for its 16th victory in 17 games.
In the opener of a three-game showdown between baseball’s top two teams, Luis Severino struck out 11 during a tight pitching duel with Red Sox lefty Drew Pomeranz. Judge cut down a runner at second base with a pinpoint throw from right field, and the steamrolling Yankees — on their best 17game run in 65 years — won their seventh straight to tie Boston for first place in the AL East at 25-10. ROYALS 15, ORIOLES 7 » Dylan Bundy set a dubious modern-day record, yielding four homers and leaving without getting an out, part of a 10-run first inning that propelled Kansas City past hapless Baltimore.
Bundy (1-5) was lifted after allowing five hits and two walks to the only seven batters he faced. That was more than enough damage to send the Orioles to their seasonhigh seventh straight defeat and 19th in 22 games. BREWERS 3, INDIANS 2 » Reliever Brent Suter homered off AL Cy Young Award winner Corey Kluber and threw 4.2 innings of tworun ball to lead Milwaukee over Cleveland. BRAVES 1, RAYS 0 » Ronald Acuna Jr. became the youngest player to homer in a 1-0 game since 1935, lifting Atlanta over Tampa Bay. TWINS 7, CARDINALS 1 » Jake Odorizzi pitched five strong innings and Eduardo Escobar had a two-run home run as Minnesota won its season-high fifth straight game. REDS 7, METS 2 » Eugenio Suarez drove in four runs to lead Cincinatti over New York. TIGERS 7, RANGERS 4 » Victor Martinez and Jeimer Candelario homered in the first inning and Detroit held off Texas, spoiling Adrian Beltre’s three-hit game in his return from an injury.