Ronel Blanco pitched the 17th no-hitter in Astros history while Kyle Tucker and Yainer Diaz recorded multi-homer games as Houston pounded out a 10-0 victory over the visiting Toronto Blue Jays on Monday.
Blanco (1-0) issued a leadoff walk to George Springer in the first inning before retiring 26 consecutive batters. Springer walked with two outs in the ninth, but Blanco recovered to induce a game-ending groundout from Vladimir Guerrero Jr., completing the first no-hitter in the majors this season.
Making just his eighth career start and 25th appearance, Blanco handcuffed the Blue Jays with a three-pitch mix of sliders, changeups and four-seam fastballs. He tossed 105 pitches, 73 for strikeouts, and finished with seven strikeouts against the two walks to Springer.
Blanco struck out the side in the fourth, retiring Guerrero, Justin Turner and Daulton Varsho.
Houston has thrown four of the majors’ past seven no-hitters, including one in the 2022 World Series. Framber Valdez tossed the Astros’ most recent no-no before Monday, beating the Cleveland Guardians 2-0 last Aug. 1.
Toronto was no-hit last July 8, a combination effort by three Detroit Tigers in a 2-0 defeat.
The Astros were quick to pounce on Blue Jays right-hander Bowden Francis (0-1), with Tucker and Diaz homering as part of a three-run first inning. Francis alternated strikeouts among the six batters he faced in the frame, but Jose Altuve singled, Tucket hit a two-run shot to left-center field, and Diaz upped the lead to 3-0 with his blast to left-center.
Houston extended that margin to 4-0 with one out in the second when Jeremy Pena clubbed his first home run since July 5, a solo shot to left-center.
Chas McCormick stroked the first of his two doubles off Francis with one out in the fourth and later scored when Jake Meyers delivered an RBI single.
Pena chased Francis in the sixth with a double that scored Jose Abreu and McCormick. Francis allowed seven runs on 10 hits and one walk with seven strikeouts over 5 1/3 innings.
Tucker and Diaz both homered again in the seventh, with Tucker driving home Yordan Alvarez.
–Field Level Media
Pedro Pages hit a decisive two-run homer in the bottom of the eighth inning as the host St. Louis Cardinals beat the Seattle Mariners 2-0 in a pitchers’ duel on…
On Tommy Pham’s controversial infield hit, the Kansas City Royals rallied past the visiting Minnesota Twins 4-2 on Saturday evening. The Royals (78-65) remained in second place in the American…
Willy Adames and Gary Sanchez hit back-to-back homers in the first inning, William Contreras also went deep and finished with two hits, and the host Milwaukee Brewers beat the Colorado…
Royals edge Twins after controversial hit, late rally
Brewers put on show of strength to beat Rockies
Mets down Reds to win ninth straight and stay in contention
Rays blow by O’s, 7-1