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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Pete Crow-Armstrong hit a tiebreaking two-run homer for his first major league hit, and the Chicago Cubs swept the Houston Astros with a 3-1 victory on Thursday.
Nico Hoerner had three hits and Mike Tauchman went 1 for 1 with three walks as Chicago won for the fourth time in five games. Hayden Wesneski (2-0) pitched 2 1/3 perfect innings for the win in relief of Javier Assad.
Houston has lost a season-high five straight and eight of nine overall. At 7-19, it is off to its worst 26-game start since it was 6-20 in 1969.
First-year manager Joe Espada was ejected by plate umpire Jansen Visconti in the top of ninth.
Crow-Armstrong was recalled from Triple-A Iowa when Cody Bellinger was placed on the 10-day injured list on Wednesday with two fractured ribs. The 22-year-old outfielder, who is considered one of the team’s top prospects, made his big league debut last year and went 0 for 14 while appearing in 13 games.
He picked a perfect time for his first major league hit.
Houston had a 1-0 lead before Dansby Swanson scampered home on a fielder’s choice grounder for Miguel Amaya in the sixth.
Espada then replaced Rafael Montero with Bryan Abreu, who threw a wild pitch with Crow-Armstrong trying to sacrifice Amaya to second. Crow-Armstrong then drove his next pitch deep to right, delighting the crowd of 29,876 at Wrigley Field.