Mariners pitcher becomes 1st Canadian in 73 years to throw a no-hitter
Former Falcon throws the 1st no-hitter by a Canadian since 1945
TORONTO — When James Paxton saw all-star Josh Donaldson stepping up to the plate with two outs in the ninth inning of his no-hit bid, he knew that he had to stay aggressive. That’s when Big Maple lived up to his nickname.
Paxton, a 6-foot-4 lefty from Ladner who played summer ball for the Kelowna Falcons back in 2007, got two quick strikes before reeling back for a 99-mph fastball.
“I mean, Josh Donaldson, the guy’s pretty good,” said Paxton, following the Seattle Mariners’ 5-0 win Tuesday. “I was like ‘I better bring my best stuff for him, I’m going to rear back and throw it as hard as I can . . . . I’m going to let it rip top of the zone and see what happens.’”
Donaldson hit the ball hard to third baseman Kyle Seager, who collected it and fired to first for the final out. No-hitter complete. “I saw the ball rocket to third and I kinda spun around and saw Seager, it looked like he caught it with his stomach,” Paxton said with a laugh. “All of a sudden I see him throwing the ball to first base and I was just kinda shocked like I can’t believe that just happened.”
Paxton (2-1) struck out seven and walked three batters in a 99-pitch masterpiece — getting a rousing ovation from the 20,513 at Rogers Centre.
When it was over, Paxton acknowledged the crowd.
“I really appreciate their cheers after the game, supporting me being Canadian,” he said. “That was very special and I just wanted to show them that I heard them and I was very grateful for their support.”
Paxton is the first Canadian in 73 years to throw a no-hitter. Toronto-born Dick Fowler threw one for the Philadelphia Athletics in 1945 in his first start in three years after serving for the Canadian Army in the Second World War.
Paxton hadn’t heard of Fowler until Tuesday night but said he was honoured to add his name to Canadian history.
Mariners history too. It was the sixth no-hitter for the franchise and fifth by an individual pitcher.
Paxton was coming off a Canadian recordsetting 16-strikeout performance in his last start, a no-decision against Oakland.
He cruised through most of the game, with two walks in the third inning his only real blemish.
Paxton said he realized he had a no-hitter going in the sixth inning, but didn’t think much about it.
“I was just trying to get ahead of guys and stick with my game plan, and probably in the eighth inning it started to become a little more real,” Paxton said.
“Six outs away, the eighth inning we had those balls hit really hard right at people, it kinda made me laugh on the mound and I was like ‘man, this is just insane.’”
Blue Jays manager John Gibbons tipped his cap to Paxton after the game.
“It’s always tough to be on the losing end, but when you’re in baseball your whole life, you appreciate a little history too,” he said.