The Houston Astros’ first win of the season was the first no-hitter of the 2024 MLB season.
Ronel Blanco grounded out Toronto Blue Jays All-Star Vladimir Guerrero to second base, pitched his first career no-hitter, and threw an impressive 105 pitches to lead to a 10-0 victory.
Blanco’s only blemish in the box score were two walks, both given to George Springer, who drew the second walk before Guerrero grounded out to complete the no-hitter. He also had seven strikeouts against the Blue Jays.
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Houston Astros No. 56 Ronel Blanco pitches in the first inning of a game against the Toronto Blue Jays on April 1, 2024 at Minute Maid Park in Houston, Texas. (Logan Riley/Getty Images)
What makes this even more impressive is the fact that this is the 30-year-old Blanco’s eighth career start in the big leagues.
It was the 17th no-hitter for the Astros in franchise history.
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Blanco, a 22-year-old native of Santiago, Dominican Republic, has been a member of the Astros’ minor league team since 2016. It took him a while to reach the majors, but it came in 2022, albeit with less of a ceremonial welcome.
Blanco posted a 7.11 ERA in seven games that season, but his performance wasn’t much better in 2023 with a 5.02 ERA in 17 games (seven starts).
But after being at the back of the Astros’ rotation since spring training, with Justin Verlander, Lance McCullers, Luis Garcia, and Jose Urquidy all starting the season on the IL, the Blancos are certainly in the running for this year’s He showed his best performance in the first match.
Yainar Diaz high-fives Houston Astros teammate Ronel Blanco #56 after the bottom of the third inning against the Toronto Blue Jays on April 1, 2024 at Minute Maid Park in Houston, Texas. Left) #21. (Logan Riley/Getty Images)
It was also very easy for Houston’s offense to focus after closing an early three-run lead thanks to Kyle Tucker’s first two-run homer of the year and Yainar Diaz’s solo shot shortly after. That also helped.
Jeremy Peña hit a home run in the next inning and added a two-run single in the bottom of the sixth. Jake Myers also hit a single to left field in the bottom of the fourth inning, scoring Chaz McCormick.
Then Tucker hit his second home run of the season, hitting a two-run shot to right-center field, and Diaz hit another solo shot, this time into the right field seats, for a double-digit RBI. .
It was a resounding victory across the board for the Astros, and one that Blanco and the organization will never forget.
Houston Astros No. 56 Ronel Blanco reacts after the bottom of the eighth inning of a game against the Toronto Blue Jays on April 1, 2024 at Minute Maid Park in Houston, Texas. (Logan Riley/Getty Images)
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The Astros defeated the New York Yankees and are now 1-4 on the season, while the Blue Jays are 2-3.
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