Astros starting pitcher Framber Valdez was one out away from completing a no-hitter on Tuesday night when a pitcher’s worst nightmare came true.
Valdez threw an 85 mph slider that Rangers shortstop Corey Seager caught and smashed into the right field stands at Globe Life Field, ending Valdez’s no-hitter in heartbreaking fashion.
Closer Josh Hader replaced Valdez to close the game. The left-hander walked Marcus Semien and then got Josh Jung to fly out to close the game, but Valdez tried to stay positive after the game.
“I always try to have fun,” Valdes told reporters through a translator. From ESPN. “Obviously, sometimes you have to get serious. I did what I always try to do, throw strikes with every pitch and try to help my team win.”
Valdez’s perfect game ended in the fifth inning when a throwing error by third baseman Alex Bregman allowed Jonah Heim to reach first base in the sixth inning.
The left-hander threw 93 pitches over eight innings, 61 of which were strikes.
He struck out five batters and walked three, finishing with one hit and two runs allowed.
The ninth-inning homer was Seager’s second, breaking up a no-hitter with two outs in the ninth.
The last time was when he was with the Dodgers. Singled off Giants left-hander Matt Moore 2016.
Had Tuesday’s no-hitter stood, it would have been Valdez’s second no-hitter in less than a year, having pitched one on Aug. 1, 2023, in a 2-0 win over the Guardians.
The two-time All-Star pitcher is having another outstanding season with the Astros, entering Tuesday’s game with a 3.56 ERA and 1.246 WHIP in 116⅓ innings.
