Blue Jays Pitcher Bowden Francis Sparks Controversy

Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Bowden Francis nearly achieved a no-hitter against the Los Angeles Angels, allowing only a home run in the ninth inning, leading to a 3-1 victory. Despite his strong performance, Angels' Taylor Ward criticized Francis, stating he found the pitches 'hittable' and that the outing was 'nothing special.' In response, teammate Chris Bassitt humorously defended Francis during a televised interview by displaying a sign highlighting Francis's recent impressive stats: '15 innings, 2 hits, 20 Ks. Hittable + Nothing Special.' Francis was named AL Player of the Week after showcasing a 0.64 ERA in his last two starts. The Blue Jays have been dominant against the Angels, winning 10 of their last 12 matchups. Fans reacted positively to Bassitt's support and critiqued Ward's comments online.