Blue Jays' Bowden Francis loses another no-hit attempt by allowing a 9th inning home run for the second time in three weeks

For the second time in three weeks, Blue Jays pitcher Bowden Francis narrowly missed a no-hitter.

Francis threw eight hitless innings against the New York Mets on Wednesday and returned to the mound in the ninth inning with 108 pitches thrown and a chance to set a historic record. Francisco Lindor spoiled the game for him.

With Toronto leading 1-0, Lindor hit an 0-2 fastball into the right-field bleachers at Rogers Centre to open the inning and tie the game.

The solo shot ended Francis' attempt to avoid a hit. It also cost him a chance to win. Francis' day was over and he left the game after 111 throws that were not allowed to count towards the decision.

The Mets rallied after breaking the no-hit attempt. New York scored five more runs against relievers Chad Green and Génesis Cabrera to take a 6-1 lead heading into the bottom of the ninth inning. The inning ended with a flyout by Lindor in his second at-bat of the ninth inning.

The Blue Jays scored another run in the ninth inning, but the Mets held on to their 6-2 victory after going hitless for eight innings.

This sounds familiar

The scene was painfully reminiscent of one that unfolded less than three weeks ago. Francis returned to the mound on Aug. 24 after throwing 112 pitches in eight hitless innings against the Los Angeles Angels. That day, Taylor Ward hit a leadoff home run, breaking up Francis' no-hit effort in the ninth inning.

The Blue Jays are still looking for the franchise's second no-hitter. Dave Stieb threw the first in 1990. Francis has come close twice now, but the Blue Jays have yet to pull it off. Since Stieb's no-hitter, six no-hit attempts have failed in the ninth inning.

It's Francis' second ninth-inning no-hitter loss in four starts. He finished the day after allowing a run on Lindor's solo home run, which was the only hit against him. He managed one walk and one strikeout while lowering his season-long ERA to 3.50 and his WHIP to 0.93 in 92 2/3 innings pitched.