James Paxton, who hails from Ladner, B.C. (a suburb just outside of Vancouver) became the second Canadian to ever throw a no-hitter in MLB history after Dick Fowler did it back in 1944.
After setting a Canadian MLB record by throwing the most strikeouts in a game with 16 in his last start, Paxton needed just 99 pitches this time around, and become the first Canadian ever to no-hit a team on home soil. He was still touching three digits on the radar gun in the 9th inning, too, with his last three pitches registering at 98 mph, 100 mph and 99 mph. He got a strong standing ovation from the 20,000 plus fans down at The Dome. The 29-year-old was drafted by the Jays in the first round of the 2009 draft, 37th overall, but did not sign and returned to finish his senior season at Kentucky before being selected by the Mariners in the fourth round the following season.
Hereβs some of the best reaction around the sports and baseball world regarding the performance that took only 2 hours and 19 minutes to complete after getting Josh Donaldson to ground-out for the final play of the game.
The no-hitter was the third this season, after Athletics starter Sean Manaea and four Dodgers pitchers combined to throw the others. Alll three no-hitters were done in different countries, too (Manaea in Oakland, Dodgers in Monterrey, Mexico and Paxton doing it in Canada).
Paxton improved to 2-1 on the season with a 3.40 ERA and a 1.13 WHIP following his outstanding performance.
