HOUSTON – Ronel Blanco, making his first start of the season, stunned the Toronto Blue Jays on Monday night, hitting a no-hitter in the Houston Astros' 10-0 win.
Blanco, coming off a mediocre 2-1 season in which he finished with a 4.50 ERA, lit up an Astros club that was coming off a four-game loss at the hands of the New York Yankees, giving Houston its first win of the season. . He threw 105 pitches, recording seven strikeouts along the way.
It is the eighth time in franchise history that the Blue Jays have gone no-hit, continuing an upside-down start for Toronto's offense. In the four-game season opener versus the Tampa Bay Rays, Toronto scored 17 points in two wins and just three in two losses at Tropicana Field.
“Give him credit, I know it's really hard to do,” Toronto manager John Schneider said. “I know he didn't start much, but he was really good and his change was great.”
Blanco, 30, a native of Santiago in the Dominican Republic, appeared in 17 games for the Astros last season and seven in his rookie year in 2022. Monday's no-hitter was only his eighth start in the major leagues, his 17th In Houston franchise history.
The Astros took a 7-0 lead after early home runs by Kyle Tucker, Yanner Diaz and Jeremy Penn. Houston finished the game with five long balls, more than enough support for Blanco.
“It's tough, you want to be patient, but his stuff was good,” Schneider said. “If anything, just tip your hat to the guy who threw a no-hitter. He had good stuff.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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