Houston Astros reliever Ronel Blanco throws no-hitter in spot start, the 17th in franchise history

Houston Astros pitcher Ronel Blanco entered Major League Baseball history last night, throwing a no-hitter in a 10-0 win over the Toronto Blue Jays. 

The 30-year old was making just his eighth MLB start of his career and is really a reliever, but was given a spot-start against the Blue Jays due to injuries to both Justin Verlander and José Urquidy to begin the season.

In his previous seven starts, Blanco never allowed fewer than two hits in a single game. He entered last night posting a career 4.78 ERA with 59 strikeouts and a 1.52 WHIP across 58.1 innings pitched.

Blanco had never thrown more than six innings in a major league game – which obviously changed last night, tossing nine hitless innings while striking out seven and walking two.

RONEL BLANCO: 9 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 7 K, 2 BB

HISTORY MADE TONIGHT pic.twitter.com/UrEYtbOai0

— Houston Astros (@astros) April 2, 2024

“Ground ball. Dubón, throws to first. No hitter! Ronel Blanco, in his eighth career start, the 30-year-old makes magic on April Fool’s Day,” – [Todd Kalas]

Blanco walked George Spring to lead off the game before retiring 26 consecutive batters. He walked Springer again in the ninth inning but outside of that, he was perfect while definitely receiving some much needed help from the Astros defense late in the game.

Tip of the 🧢 to José Abreu for making this play with one out in the 9th to preserve the no-no!@astros | #Relentless pic.twitter.com/g8xdpBfrRk

— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) April 2, 2024

Blanco finished the game with 75 strikes on 103 pitches, tallying seven strikeouts and two walks. The no-hitter was the 17th in Houston Astros franchise history. 

Meanwhile, here in Philadelphia. Connor Brogdon allowed a go-ahead grand slam in the 10th inning last night to kill any chance of the Phillies beating the Cincinnati Reds. Tonight, the Phillies will send Spencer Turnbull to the mound in place of an injured (and washed) Taijuan Walker.

Embrace The Pain.

Johan Rojas’ blunder on the base paths paired with a disaster-class from Connor Brogdon dooms Phillies in 6-3 extra-inning loss to the Reds >>

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