Astros' Ronel Blanco no-hits Blue Jays

Field Level Media|published: Mon 1st April, 22:31 2024

Apr 1, 2024; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Astros starting pitcher Ronel Blanco (56) delivers a pitch during the first inning against the Toronto Blue Jays at Minute Maid Park. credits: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

Ronel Blanco pitched the 17th no-hitter in Astros history while Kyle Tucker and Yainer Diaz recorded multi-homer games as Houston pounded out a 10-0 victory over the visiting Toronto Blue Jays on Monday.

Blanco (1-0) issued a leadoff walk to George Springer in the first inning before retiring 26 consecutive batters. Springer walked with two outs in the ninth, but Blanco recovered to induce a game-ending groundout from Vladimir Guerrero Jr., completing the first no-hitter in the majors this season.

Making just his eighth career start and 25th appearance, Blanco handcuffed the Blue Jays with a three-pitch mix of sliders, changeups and four-seam fastballs. He tossed 105 pitches, 73 for strikeouts, and finished with seven strikeouts against the two walks to Springer.

Blanco struck out the side in the fourth, retiring Guerrero, Justin Turner and Daulton Varsho.

Houston has thrown four of the majors' past seven no-hitters, including one in the 2022 World Series. Framber Valdez tossed the Astros' most recent no-no before Monday, beating the Cleveland Guardians 2-0 last Aug. 1.

Toronto was no-hit last July 8, a combination effort by three Detroit Tigers in a 2-0 defeat.

The Astros were quick to pounce on Blue Jays right-hander Bowden Francis (0-1), with Tucker and Diaz homering as part of a three-run first inning. Francis alternated strikeouts among the six batters he faced in the frame, but Jose Altuve singled, Tucket hit a two-run shot to left-center field, and Diaz upped the lead to 3-0 with his blast to left-center.

Houston extended that margin to 4-0 with one out in the second when Jeremy Pena clubbed his first home run since July 5, a solo shot to left-center.

Chas McCormick stroked the first of his two doubles off Francis with one out in the fourth and later scored when Jake Meyers delivered an RBI single.

Pena chased Francis in the sixth with a double that scored Jose Abreu and McCormick. Francis allowed seven runs on 10 hits and one walk with seven strikeouts over 5 1/3 innings.

Tucker and Diaz both homered again in the seventh, with Tucker driving home Yordan Alvarez.

—Field Level Media