Mark DeRosa shares fascinating prospective on Ronel Blanco's no-hitter for Astros
FILM BREAKDOWN
02 April 2024
FILM BREAKDOWN
Astros pitcher Ronel Blanco made history on Monday night tossing his first career no-hitter. Houston hammered the Blue Jays 10-0 securing the team's first win of the season.
But what really caught MLB Network's Mark DeRosa off guard, was how much Blanco used his changeup against Toronto. Blanco rarely used his changeup last season, but added the pitch this offseason to keep hitters off balance.
Blanco has mostly relied on just two pitches (fastball, slider) over the course of his career, making it a 50/50 proposition for hitters. And not only did he add the changeup to his arsenal, he threw it more than any other pitch on Monday.
Don't miss the video above for DeRosa's in-depth breakdown of Blanco's historic night.
Cam Smith hit two of Houston's five home runs and finished with four hits as the Astros routed the Athletics 13-3 on Tuesday night to halt their four-game winning streak.
CAM SOLO SHOT!#VoteCam ⭐️ https://t.co/W06pfHQMR1 pic.twitter.com/7rrvEtpEm0
— Houston Astros (@astros) June 18, 2025
Jason Alexander, claimed off waivers from the Athletics last month, pitched six shutout innings for Houston before tiring in the seventh. Mauricio Dubón, Christian Walker and Cooper Hummel also homered for the Astros.
Smith and Dubón went back-to-back in the fourth.
AIRCRAFT. CARRIER. #VoteCam pic.twitter.com/UcXm8NVs60
— Houston Astros (@astros) June 18, 2025
Smith connected for leadoff shots in the second and fourth. He drove in three runs and scored three times. The 22-year-old rookie has five major league homers — and two multihomer games.
Dubón followed Smith's second home run with his second this season for a 5-0 lead against A's starter JP Sears, who walked the bases loaded in the first before giving up a two-run single to Jake Meyers.
Smith finished off his first four-hit game with an RBI double in the eighth.
Alexander (1-0) threw a season-high 95 pitches in his 12th career start and first since Sept. 18, 2022, with Milwaukee. He allowed three runs — two earned — and three hits.