Gavin Williams’ Near-Historic Performance Falls Short
Gavin Williams was eager to stay on the mound, which led Cleveland manager Stephen Vogg to keep him in the game, especially as he was on the verge of setting a remarkable record.
With no pitchers warming up in the bullpen, Williams maintained a no-hitter into the ninth inning. However, Juan Soto broke the spell with a two-out solo home run, sealing a 4-1 victory for the Mets at Citi Field on Wednesday afternoon.
“Being in that ninth inning was really fun and felt special,” said the 26-year-old Williams after an impressive 126-pitch outing—his highest pitch count of the season, surpassing last year’s 109.
“I think I’d have pushed it to 140 pitches. I was just thrilled to be there. It’s hard to say when I’ll get another chance like this.”
Cleveland hasn’t seen a no-hitter since Len Barker’s perfect game back in 1981.
Vogt shared that he didn’t even bother checking with Williams about how he felt after he had retired 14 batters in a row before the ninth inning. “His velocity was still solid, and his stuff looked sharp,” he noted. “With a four-run lead, we just let him go.”
“We didn’t have anyone warming up or talking to anyone in the pen until the ball left the yard,” Vogt added, highlighting the anticipation surrounding the moment.
The home run by Soto barely eluded the grasp of center fielder Angel Martinez. “I really wish I could have made that catch. I was so close,” Martinez reflected.
“I knew Soto hit it well. I just thought, ‘Of course it has to be six inches away from my glove,’” Vogt added with a hint of exasperation.
Williams mentioned he had been hoping to induce a ground ball. But he conceded that Soto’s fastball drive was simply too good. “That was a great fastball, great swing,” remarked catcher Austin Hedges. “I’ve caught quite a few of Soto’s home runs; you become familiar with that sound.”
Interestingly, two other key Mets hitters, Francisco Lindor and Pete Alonso, both made solid contact with Williams early in the game, causing some anxious moments for him on the mound. “I thought I might need to change my pants after those hits,” Williams joked. “Seriously, I did! But everything turned out fine.”
After walking four batters, Williams did finish strong by retiring Alonso and facing Brandonnimo, eventually receiving a warm standing ovation from the Citi Field crowd as he headed back to the dugout.
“It was nice to hear that appreciation, especially from fans of the opposing team,” Williams said. “It doesn’t happen often, but it really means a lot.”
