No-Hitter Bid Ends
Red Sox pitcher Ranger Suarez loses no-hit bid in seventh, but team wins 2-0.
Boston Red Sox left-hander Ranger Suárez came within seven outs of a no-hitter Friday night in Seattle, only to see Josh Naylor line a 92-mph sinker into the right-center alley for a double with one out in the seventh inning. The Red Sox still won 2-0, but Suárez walked away without the history he nearly made. Associated Press confirmed the final score.
Suárez threw 94 pitches and finished with a line of 6.2 innings, 1 hit, 0 runs, 3 walks, and 5 strikeouts. NESN reported his postgame reaction: "I felt my command was there today. Of course, you want the no-hitter, but the win for the team is what keeps me optimistic about our direction."
How Naylor Ended Six Innings of Dominance
Suárez was nearly perfect through the first six innings at T-Mobile Park. He retired the first 10 batters in a row before issuing a walk to catcher Cal Raleigh in the fourth. He recovered immediately, striking out Julio Rodríguez. After six complete innings, his pitch count sat at 76 — 46 for strikes — and the Red Sox led 1-0. Daily Item noted Raleigh was the only Mariner to reach base more than once, drawing two walks on the night.
Then came the seventh. Raleigh walked again on a full count to lead off. Rodríguez flew out to center. That brought up Naylor — Seattle's first baseman, who signed a $92.5 million deal with the Mariners in early 2026. He got his pitch and drove it to the gap. "Suárez was mixing his speeds well all night," Naylor said on ROOT Sports. "I was just looking for something elevated. He didn't give us much, but I'm glad we finally broke through."
A $130 Million Man Silencing His Critics
Suárez, 30, is in the first year of a five-year, $130 million contract with Boston. The deal drew skepticism early. He posted an ERA above 4.50 in his first four starts after battling lower back stiffness in May, according to RotoWire. Friday's outing dropped his season ERA from 3.42 all the way down to 2.93.
The Boston Herald framed the performance as "redemption" for the $130 million man. Red Sox Chief Baseball Officer Craig Breslow, who built the Suárez deal last offseason, saw his strategy validated. National outlets like FOX Sports are already calling Suárez a dark-horse Cy Young candidate if he keeps pitching like this.
Fourth Time Suárez Has Fallen Short of History
This was not the first time Suárez came close. According to MLB Trade Rumors, it is the fourth time in his career — including his years with Philadelphia — that he has carried a no-hitter into the seventh inning without finishing it. The Red Sox have not thrown an official no-hitter since Jon Lester did it in 2008. Friday was the closest any Boston pitcher has come all season.
One notable wrinkle: the game featured MLB's new Automated Ball-Strike Challenge System, rolled out league-wide for 2026. Suárez used a challenge in the fifth inning on a borderline pitch, and it was overturned in his favor — resulting in a strikeout of Dominic Canzone. Some Seattle fans on social media complained the automated zone favored Suárez's corner-to-corner style over what a human umpire might have called.
Boston Moves to Within 1.5 Games of AL Wild Card
The 2-0 win was fueled by a solo home run from Caleb Durbin in the second inning. That was all Boston needed. The victory moves the Red Sox to within 1.5 games of the final American League Wild Card spot, currently held by the Toronto Blue Jays, according to CBS Sports. Boston's win probability peaked at 94.2% after Suárez completed the sixth inning.
With the July 31 trade deadline approaching, Suárez's dominance strengthens Boston's hand. MLB Trade Rumors reports the Red Sox could now deal younger prospects for bullpen help, confident Suárez anchors the top of the rotation. His contract is backloaded, paying $35 million in 2030 — so front-office pressure to justify the deal is very real. Friday night was a step in the right direction.
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