NEW YORK (AP) 鈥� Dylan Cease鈥檚 latest no-hit bid featured five walks and a rising pitch count into the seventh inning.
It made Toronto Blue Jays manager John Schneider鈥檚 decision on when to lift his ace a little less agonizing.
Cease lost a no-hit bid with two outs in the seventh inning against the New York Yankees on Saturday when he allowed a clean single to Jazz Chisholm Jr.
On his 106th pitch, Cease gave up a single to right field on a 97.1-mph fastball to put runners at first and second. After allowing the hit, Cease gave up an RBI single to Austin Wells and was lifted by Schneider. Spencer Miles replaced Cease after 111 pitches.
鈥淚鈥檓 just trying to throw strikes and execute pitches really,鈥� Cease said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 obviously hard to do things like that and if I give up a hit, then it鈥檚 just meant to be I guess.鈥�
Cease threw seven fewer pitches than his attempt at San Francisco. He lost his no-hit bid when current Yankees鈥� outfielder Heliot Ramos hit a line drive single to center field for the Giants in the ninth.
After that game, Schneider said he was willing Cease to keep going because he was a 鈥渇an of baseball鈥� and because the game occurred shortly before the All-Star break.
鈥淵ou kind of want to do what鈥檚 right for him in the moment,鈥� Schneider said after Toronto鈥檚 鈥淵ou want to do what鈥檚 right for him long term and you want to try to win the game. So I know I鈥檝e said before where I鈥檓 kind of a throwback to where if a guy鈥檚 got a no-hitter, I鈥檓 going to let him roll, but I think it鈥檚 important to kind of keep him right there.”
Cease was able to no-hit the Yankees into the seventh despite tying a season-high with five walks. He threw 60 pitches for strikes and first-pitch strikes to 15 of 25 hitters while averaging 95.7 mph on his 40 four-seam fastballs and 88 mph on his 36 sliders.
“The walks were weird,鈥� Schneider said. 鈥淭here were some close misses. Also I think there鈥檚 a couple of four-pitch walks in there, but stuff was really good. Stuff was consistent throughout and he used all of his pitches.
Cease stranded a runner at third in the first and second innings by getting strikeouts against Luis Garc铆a Jr. and Wells. He ended the fifth by getting Jos茅 Caballero to line into a double play started by shortstop Ernie Clement.
鈥淗e鈥檚 been doing it pretty much all year,鈥� Toronto first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. said through a translator.
Cease was attempting to pitch his second career no-hitter and the second in Toronto history. He threw a no-hitter on at Washington for San Diego, which was the Padres鈥� second no-hitter in team history.
鈥淚t feels like it鈥檚 happening every single time he steps on the mound,鈥� said outfielder Nathan Lukes, who hit the deciding homer in the eighth. 鈥淭he guy鈥檚 unbelievable. It鈥檚 special what he鈥檚 doing this year.鈥�
It was the second time Cease carried a no-hitter into the seventh at Yankee Stadium. He lost a no-hit bid against the Yankees on when he allowed a homer to Cody Bellinger.
Toronto鈥檚 only no-hitter was thrown by Dave Stieb on Sept. 2, 1990, in Cleveland. Before Stieb’s no-hitter, he reached the ninth inning four times without allowing a hit.
New York has been no-hit eight times. The last instance was a combined no-hitter by on June 25, 2022, at Yankee Stadium.
鈥淗e’s tough,鈥� Yankees manager Aaron Boone said of Cease. 鈥淲hen he’s on his game, the secondary stuff’s really good to go with a heater that you got to respect too.鈥�
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