Cleveland Guardians pitcher Gavin Williams was just two outs away from completing the first no-hitter of the 2025 Major League Baseball season on Wednesday when New York Mets slugger Juan Soto intervened with a powerful ninth-inning home run. Trailing 4-0, the Mets turned to Soto, who connected on a 1-0 fastball and launched it 420 feet to center field, breaking up the no-hit bid and narrowing the score.
The Details Behind Soto’s Decisive Home Run
Williams’ 97 mph fastball landed in a location that many would consider challenging to hit out of the park, but Soto demonstrated his exceptional skill by driving the ball deep. Despite the center fielder Angel Martínez’s positioning, the ball was far out of his reach. Statcast data confirmed that Soto’s blast would have cleared the fences in 28 of the 30 MLB ballparks, underscoring the power behind the hit. This marked Soto’s 26th home run of the season, delivering a crucial moment for the Mets.
Significance of the No-Hitter That Almost Was
Williams had pitched 8⅓ innings without allowing a hit, making this the longest no-hit bid of the current season. If successful, it would have been the first no-hitter in the majors since a combined effort by Shota Imanaga and two Cubs relievers on September 4 of last year. It also would have ended the Guardians’ long-standing drought, as their last no-hitter was Len Barker’s perfect game on May 15, 1981—the longest active gap amongst MLB teams.
Mets’ Recent History with Near No-Hitters
The Mets have managed to avoid being no-hit since Max Scherzer of the Nationals achieved the feat on October 3, 2015. More recently, in September last year, Mets star Francisco Lindor hit a ninth-inning home run off Blue Jays pitcher Bowden Francis to break up another potential no-hitter, continuing this trend of late-game heroics to foil no-hit bids.
Williams’ Strong Performance Despite Loss
Although Williams did not complete the no-hitter, he pitched a deep and effective game, throwing 126 pitches—more than any other pitcher this season—and ending with a 3.17 ERA after 23 starts. After Soto’s home run, Williams retired Pete Alonso but was forced to leave following a walk to Brandon Nimmo, finishing with a quality outing despite the final 4-1 game score in favor of Cleveland.
Impact of the Game on Both Teams’ Playoff Races
The Guardians’ victory on Wednesday secured a sweep of the Mets and tightened their position in the American League wild card race. Cleveland now sits just one game behind the New York Yankees for the final wild card spot and boasts a 5-1 record since a recent series of trades leading up to the deadline. Meanwhile, the Mets remain third in the National League East, trailing the Philadelphia Phillies by 2½ games while holding onto the last wild card spot in the NL.
Looking Ahead: What This Means Moving Forward
Williams’ near no-hitter and Soto’s clutch ninth-inning home run serve as critical moments in the tightly contested 2025 MLB season. For the Guardians, maintaining momentum could be key to securing a postseason berth, while the Mets will need to regroup and overcome this setback to stay competitive in the wild card race. These developments highlight the intense competition and the unpredictable nature of baseball as playoff contenders continue to battle for positioning.