Blanco with the NO-NO
Astros' Ronel Blanco stuns Blue Jays with no-hitter masterclass
Apr 1, 2024, 9:37 pm
Astros defeat the Blue Jays, 10-0. Photo by Logan Riely/Getty Images.
Ronel Blanco of the Houston Astros threw the first no-hitter in the major leagues this season, blanking the Toronto Blue Jays 10-0 on Monday night.
The right-hander struck out seven and walked two. He walked George Springer to start the game and again with two outs in the ninth. When Vladimir Guerrero Jr. grounded out to end it, Blanco smiled broadly before raising his arms above his head just before being mobbed by teammates.
HISTORY MADE TONIGHT pic.twitter.com/UrEYtbOai0
— Houston Astros (@astros) April 2, 2024
It was the 17th no-hitter in Astros history and the first in the majors since Philadelphia’s Michael Lorenzen threw one against the Washington Nationals on Aug. 9 of last year.
Close call
Alejandro Kirk hit a ball that Blanco deflected, and it rolled away from him to start the eighth. Mauricio Dubón, who had just entered the game for Jose Altuve at second base, charged in and grabbed it, before making the throw to first to beat Kirk to the bag.
Ernie Clement grounded out before Kevin Kiermaier popped out to shallow left field to end the inning.
The 30-year-old right-hander is in his third major league season after going 2-1 with a 4.50 ERA in 17 games with seven starts last season.
The Astros recorded their first win, beating the Blue Jays, 10-0.
YAINER HR NUMBER 2 pic.twitter.com/EPDu9OXFGS
— Houston Astros (@astros) April 2, 2024
Kyle Tucker and Yainer Diaz both homered twice.
1 HR wasn't enough so Tuck came back for more!!!💪 pic.twitter.com/Fm7Cqx7dpd
— Houston Astros (@astros) April 2, 2024
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Oswald Peraza hit a two-run single in the ninth inning to help the Los Angeles Angels snap a three-game losing skid by beating the Houston Astros 4-1 on Saturday night.
Peraza entered the game as a defensive replacement in the seventh inning and hit a bases-loaded fly ball to deep right field that eluded the outstretched glove of Cam Smith. It was the fourth straight hit off Astros closer Bryan Abreu (3-4), who had not allowed a run in his previous 12 appearances.
The Angels third run of the ninth inning scored when Mike Trout walked with the bases loaded.
Kyle Hendricks allowed one run while scattering seven hits over six innings. He held the Astros to 1 for 8 with runners in scoring position, the one hit coming on Jesús Sánchez’s third-inning infield single that scored Jeremy Peña.
Reid Detmers worked around a leadoff walk to keep the Astros scoreless in the seventh, and José Fermin (3-2) retired the side in order in the eighth before Kenley Jansen worked a scoreless ninth to earn his 24th save.
Houston’s Spencer Arrighetti struck out a season-high eight batters over 6 1/3 innings. The only hit he allowed was Zach Neto’s third-inning solo home run.
Yordan Alvarez had two hits for the Astros, who remained three games ahead of Seattle for first place in the AL West.
Key moment
Peraza’s two-run single to deep right field that broke a 1-1 tie in the ninth.
Key Stat
Opponents were 5 for 44 against Abreu in August before he allowed four straight hits in the ninth.
Up next
Astros RHP Hunter Brown (10-6, 2.37 ERA) faces RHP José Soriano (9-9, 3.85) when the series continues Sunday.