Trevor Bauer throws 7 no-hit innings, Indians lose no-hitter in 9th, but defeat Blue Jays

CLEVELAND _ There were plenty of walks and hit batsmen, but until the ninth inning, there were no hits. Not one.

The Indians were three outs from making some Progressive Field history, and on the ballpark's 25th birthday no less, but a ninth-inning single _ the Toronto Blue Jays' first of the night _ ruined a combined no-hitter bid in the Indians' 4-1 win Thursday night.

Trevor Bauer threw seven no-hit innings, working his way in and out of jams due to six walks and one batter that he hit. Though, he escaped unharmed each time and kept the Blue Jays out of the hit column, he was pulled prior to the eighth due to his pitch count reaching 117.

That led to reliever Jon Edwards, who had much of the same experience. He walked two and hit a batter to load the bases, but recorded two outs before Indians manager Terry Francona handed the ball to Brad Hand.

Hand escaped the eighth with the no-hitter intact, but Freddy Galvis led off the ninth with a single to right-center, ending the big three outs short. Teoscar Hernandez doubled home a run and the Blue Jays eventually brought the potential tying run to the plate in the form of Rowdy Tellez, who struck out to end the game.

Bauer got himself into trouble and then somehow worked out of it, which acted as the best microcosm of the night as a whole. Galvis opened the inning with a walk before Alen Hanson was hit with a pitch. Brandon Drury then drew a walk of his own to load the bases, all at Bauer's own doing.

Though, with a heavy onslaught of curveballs, Bauer escaped the threat. He threw three consecutive curveballs to strike out Socrates Brito for the first out. He struck out Randal Grichuk on a curveball as well. He then began Tellez's at-bat with five consecutive curveballs before he finally hit a harmless flyout to center field to end the inning.

The Indians offense did just enough to support Bauer and give him a cushion. Facing Blue Jays starting pitcher Aaron Sanchez, the Indians' struggling lineup manufactured two runs in the fourth inning. Jake Bauers, hitting in the No. 3 spot, and Carlos Santana opened the inning with singles to center field. Brad Miller then followed with a walk to load the bases.

Greg Allen grounded a ball that first baseman Lourdes Gurriel Jr. bobbled. He took the out at second base, but the Indians took a 1-0 lead. Roberto Perez then drove a ball deep to center field to score a second run via a sacrifice fly. It wasn't a great offensive night, but it was plenty for Bauer.

Jose Ramirez, in the seventh, drove in the Indians' third run of the night via a sacrifice fly against Blue Jays reliever Tim Mayza. Brad Miller was then walked to put the Indians on top 4-0.

Ramirez later left the game due to precautionary reasons with a left foot contusion.

Thursday night's start continued an outstanding beginning to the 2019 season for Bauer, who has now combined to allow one hit and one run in his 14 innings of work to go with 17 strikeouts and seven walks.