HOUSTON, TX — Pitchers who throw no-hitters are a rare occurrence in baseball. Before Tuesday night, only 15 times has a pitcher in an Astros uniform pulled off the feat. Houston’s Ace, Framber Valdez, pushed that number to 16 last night in the Astros’ 2-0 win over the Cleveland Guardians at Minute Maid Park in Houston.
Valdez bounced back from a poor start against the Texas Rangers last Wednesday in a game where he lasted only 3 ⅔ innings and gave up six runs. The Rangers pummeled Houston in that game 13-5. On Tuesday, Valdez returned to peak form and accumulated the 27 necessary outs for a complete game, and as an added cherry on top, allowed zero hits through nine innings. Hours after the Astros reacquired the two-time World Series Champion and Cy Young Award winner for Houston, Justin Verlander, Valdez allowed just one baserunner on a walk.
The Guardians Gabriel Arias grounded out to start the ninth before Myles Straw lined out to center field. Cam Gallagher then lined out to Houson’s Jeremy Pena to end it and set off the celebration. Valdez raised his arms in triumph on the mound as the team swarmed him in the infield. Watch the final out below.
Framber Valdez finished with seven strikeouts on just 93 pitches. His no-hitter marked the third in Major League Baseball this season, joining New York Mets right-hander Domingo German, who threw a perfect game on June 28, and a combined no-hitter by the Detroit Tigers Matt Manning, Alex Lange, and Jason Foley on July 8.
Astros Framber Valdez throws a no-hitter on August 1, 2023.
(Credit: foxsports.com)
The Astros (61-47) won the contest 2-0 over the Guardian thanks to Kyle Tucker. Tucker generated the offense with a 2-run single in the third inning. With the win, the Astros remain half a game behind the AL West-leading Texas Rangers (61-46). Hot on the Rangers’ heels since the end of June, Houston is poised to take the lead in the division moving into August. The reacquisition of Verlander is a great step in the right direction for the Astros moving forward, and Valdez proved on Tuesday that Houston is ready for another deep playoff run.
The Houston Astros returns to action on Wednesday, August 2 at Minute Park in Houston at 1:10 p.m.
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