Houston Astros starter Ronel Blanco came close to making history on Sunday by pitching a no-hitter for the second time this season. Blanco threw seven no-hit innings against the Detroit Tigers before being pulled by manager Joe Espada with the no-hitter still intact. Despite his impressive performance, the Astros bullpen allowed three hits and a run, resulting in a 4-1 victory.
Earlier in the season, Blanco pitched his first career no-hitter on April 1 against the Toronto Blue Jays. This achievement was quite remarkable for Blanco, who had primarily been a reliever in his first two-plus MLB seasons. With his solid performance, Blanco has secured his spot in Houston’s rotation and has become their top pitcher.
Blanco’s near-historic outing on Sunday was just two innings short of making him the seventh pitcher in MLB history to throw two no-hitters in a single season. The likes of Johnny Vander Meer, Allie Reynolds, Virgil Trucks, Nolan Ryan, Roy Halladay, and Max Scherzer achieved this feat before him, with Scherzer being the most recent pitcher to do so in 2015.
Throughout the game, Blanco demonstrated his skill and composure on the mound. Despite facing some trouble in the fifth inning with three consecutive walks, he managed to escape a bases-loaded jam unscathed. Blanco’s stellar defense also showcased his abilities as a complete pitcher, including a critical play on a line drive back to the mound in the sixth inning.
Ultimately, Blanco finished the game with zero hits and zero runs allowed along with three walks and eight strikeouts. While he fell short of making history
