HOUSTON — Ronel Blanco of the Houston Astros threw his first major league no-hitter of the season in a 10-0 win over the Toronto Blue Jays on Monday night.
The right-hander had seven strikeouts and two walks. He started the game by giving up a walk to George Springer and started the game again in the ninth inning with two outs. When Vladimir Guerrero Jr. grounded out to end the game, Blanco was all smiles and raised his arms above his head just before being mopped up by his teammates.
It was the 17th no-hitter in Astros history, and the first in the majors since Philadelphia’s Michael Lorenzen had one hit against the Washington Nationals on August 9 of last year.
Houston’s last no-hitter came about a week earlier, on Aug. 1, when Framber Valdez threw a 2-0 win against Cleveland.
Kyle Tucker and Yainar Diaz each hit two home runs and provided the offense in the game, giving the Astros their first win of the season after losing four to the Yankees. Houston’s Joe Espada became the first manager in major league history to pitch a no-hitter and win his first game.
Blanco threw 105 pitches, averaging 93.6 mph and also threw 31 fastballs, 36 changeups, 34 sliders and four curveballs. The 30-year-old Dominican progressed through the game and didn’t need many big plays from his defense, until Cavan Biggio hit a grounder to right with one out in the ninth inning. First baseman Jose Abreu hit a ball that dived to right, stayed on the ground, and threw the ball to Blanco, who covered him first, for an out.
In the 8th inning, Blanco deflected a ball hit by Alejandro Kirk and the ball rolled away. Mauricio Dubon, who had just replaced Jose Altuve at second base, rushed in, grabbed the ball, and threw it to first base, retiring Kirk.
Blanco, who had never pitched a complete game as a professional, was making his eighth major league start and never pitched more than six innings.
For the Astros, Toronto’s Beauden Francis (0 wins, 1 loss) had 10 hits and 7 RBIs in his first start in the major leagues.
Altuve hit a leadoff single, and with one out in the first inning, Tucker hit a shot to make it 2-0. With two outs in the first inning, Diaz connected with his first home run, increasing the lead to 3-0.
With one out in the second inning, Peña homered into the left field seats to make it 4-0.
In the fourth inning, with one out, Chas McCormick hit a double, and Jake Myers hit a double to make it 5-0.
Peña extended the lead to seven points with a two-run hit in the sixth inning.
In the seventh inning, Yordan Alvarez walked and Tucker hit another home run to make it 9-0. With one out in the first inning, Diaz connected again and sent one into the right field seats, extending the lead to 10-0.
