Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Dylan Cease saw his bid for a second career no-hitter end with two outs in the ninth inning Wednesday night, as San Francisco Giants outfielder Heliot Ramos singled to break up the no-no at Oracle Park.
Cease dominates through eight innings
Cease, acquired by Toronto in a trade earlier this season, had retired 25 of the first 26 batters he faced, walking only one. He struck out 10 Giants and threw 106 pitches through eight innings, keeping San Francisco hitless while relying on a devastating slider and a lively fastball.
Blue Jays shortstop Andrés Giménez and first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. were among the first to congratulate Cease after the hit, though the right-hander showed visible disappointment on the mound.
Ramos delivers clutch hit
With one out in the ninth, Ramos stepped to the plate and lined a 1-2 pitch into left field for a clean single, ending Cease's no-hit bid. The hit came on Cease's 114th pitch of the night. Ramos, a 26-year-old outfielder, has been a key part of the Giants' lineup this season.
Cease's only previous no-hitter came on September 1, 2023, while pitching for the Chicago White Sox against the Detroit Tigers. He struck out 11 in that game and walked none.
Game impact and reaction
Despite losing the no-hitter, Cease finished with a complete-game shutout, allowing just one hit and one walk while striking out 11. The Blue Jays won 3-0, improving their record to 52-38. Cease lowered his ERA to 2.89 on the season.
According to MLB Stats, Cease became the first Blue Jays pitcher to take a no-hitter into the ninth inning since Dave Stieb in 1989. Stieb lost his no-hit bid with two outs in the ninth on a hit by Roberto Alomar.
"I felt great all night, everything was working," Cease told reporters after the game. "It's tough to come that close, but I'll take the win and the shutout. Ramos put a good swing on a pitch I thought was decent."
Historical context
Cease's near no-hitter is the third time in 2026 that a pitcher has taken a no-hitter into the ninth inning. Earlier this season, Miami's Sandy Alcantara and Seattle's George Kirby both completed no-hitters. Cease's performance marks the closest any Blue Jays pitcher has come to a no-hitter since 2021, when Robbie Ray took one into the seventh inning.
The Blue Jays continue a four-game series against the Giants on Thursday, with Kevin Gausman scheduled to start for Toronto.
