Marco Estrada pitched one of the more memorable gems in Toronto Blue Jays history Wednesday.
The 31-year-old right-hander took a perfect game into the eighth before giving up an infield single to Rays second baseman Logan Forsythe on a close play made closer by Josh Donaldson’s valiant effort.
By the time Estrada’s day was over he had 10 strikeouts and just two hits allowed in 8.2 innings without walking a batter. It was the first time in his career that he’d pitched into the ninth inning.
For all the positives Estrada could take from his magnificent outing it will be remembered for what he missed rather than what he achieved.
The Blue Jays have just one no-hitter in franchise history — Dave Stieb’s September 2, 1990 no-hitter of the Cleveland Indians — but a surprisingly long list of Blue Jays have flirted with history, beginning with Stieb in 1988. Estrada’s attempt brings to mind some of the closest calls the franchise has ever seen.
Dave Stieb, 1988
Date: September 24th 1988
Opposing Team: Cleveland Indians
When the no-hit bid ended: Ninth inning, two outs.
Hitter who broke it up: Julio Franco
Strikeouts: Eight
Hit that ended it:
At the time the significance of this game wasn’t understood, but this was the first of two consecutive starts where Stieb came within one strike of a no-hitter. An undeniably bad bounce added to the disappointment.
Dave Stieb
Date: September 30th 1988
Opposing Team: Baltimore Orioles
When the no-hit bid ended: Ninth inning, two outs.
Hitter who broke it up: Jim Traber
Strikeouts: Four
Hit that ended it:
This was a cleaner hit against Stieb, but that was little consolation for the Blue Jays. Traber — a career .227 hitter — came off the bench as a pinch-hitter to deliver the fatal blow.
Roy Halladay, 1998
Date: September 27th 1998
Opposing Team: Detroit Tigers
When the no-hit bid ended: Ninth inning, two outs.
Hitter who broke it up: Bobby Higginson
Strikeouts: Eight
Hit that ended it:
In just his second career start Halladay’s outing would be a harbinger of things to come; he went on to record a no-hitter and perfect game in his career, though neither came with the Blue Jays. He got the final out to finish the game, earning the win in true Halladay fashion.
Dustin McGowan, 2007
Date: June 24th 2007
Opposing Team: Colorado Rockies
When the no-hit bid ended: Ninth inning, none out.
Hitter who broke it up: Jeff Baker
Strikeouts: Seven
At the time of McGowan’s gem it looked like it would be one of many for the then-25-year-old. Perhaps more than any other this start represents the potential McGowan had as a top-flight starter.
Brandon Morrow, 2010
Date: August 8th 2010
Opposing Team: Tampa Bay Rays
When the no-hit bid ended: Ninth inning, two outs.
Hitter who broke it up: Evan Longoria
Strikeouts: 17
Hit that ended it:
Aaron Hill came so close to coming up with this ball, but not quite close enough. Morrow didn’t give his fielders much to do during this dominant 17-strikeout shutout and his no-hit bid was arguably the best-pitched of the lot.
For any other team Estrada’s near-perfect game might go down as a landmark heartbreak in franchise history. Unfortunately, for the Toronto Blue Jays it’s nothing new.
