Guardians’ Williams Makes History Almost
In an electrifying performance, Gavin Williams battled on the mound for the Cleveland Guardians, nearly achieving a no-hitter against the New York Mets on Wednesday afternoon at Citi Field. Williams, determined to stay in the game, carried a no-hitter into the ninth inning, only to have Juan Soto break it up with a solo home run, leading to a 4-1 victory for the Guardians.
Williams Stays Strong Despite High Pitch Count
Manager Stephen Vogt had every intention of keeping Williams in the game, with no bullpen pitchers warming up. Williams, who threw 126 pitches—well above his season high of 109—expressed how special the moment was for him. “Going into the ninth was pretty fun, pretty special,” said the 26-year-old. “At that point I didn’t even care about the pitch count. It didn’t matter if I went to 140 pitches. I would have done it anyway.”
Vogt’s Confidence in Williams
Vogt noted that Williams’s impressive performance made it easy to leave him in, commenting on his maintained velocity and crisp pitches. “I didn’t dare ask him…With a four-run lead, you gotta let him go,” he remarked. “You don’t know how many chances these pitchers are ever going to have to do it. He was going to get to go the whole way.”
Soto Breaks Up the No-Hitter
That chance almost resulted in history, but Soto’s homer just cleared the reach of center fielder Angel Martínez, who lamented, “I wish I could be Spiderman. I was real close. I tried my best.” Vogt added, “I knew Soto clipped it…but of course it had to be six inches from Angel’s glove.”
Williams Reflects on the Game
Post-game, Williams expressed his disappointment at the missed no-hitter but remained proud of his effort. He had hoped for a ground ball instead of the elevated fastball that led to Soto’s hit. Catcher Austin Hedges acknowledged Soto’s skill, saying, “He took a really good swing and there’s a reason he’s one of the best hitters in this league.”
A Standing Ovation
Despite the setback, Williams still earned admiration from the crowd, receiving a standing ovation on his walk back to the dugout following the game. He appreciated the support from Mets fans, stating, “It’s nice, especially getting that from a different team’s fan base. It’s awesome.”
Close Calls
Earlier in the game, Williams faced tense moments as two of the Mets’ top hitters, Francisco Lindor and Pete Alonso, hit hard line drives his way, startling him. “It scared me, I’ll say that. I thought I was gonna have to change pants or something,” he joked about the experience.
Williams ultimately walked four batters and faced a total of two more after Soto’s home run, contributing to a memorable afternoon for the Guardians.
