Houston’s ace pitcher Justin Verlander tossed the third no-hitter of his Major League Baseball career Sunday, propelling the Astros to a 2-0 win over the Blue Jays in Toronto.
Verlander was with the Detroit Tigers when he no-hit the Milwaukee Brewers on June 12, 2017 and the Blue Jays on May 7, 2011.
On Sunday he struck out 14 batters and allowed just one base runner — on a one-out walk to Cavan Biggio in the first inning.
The 36-year-old became the first pitcher in major league history to throw two no-hitters in the same ballpark as a visitor.
He joined Nolan Ryan, Sandy Koufax, Bob Feller, Larry Corcoran and Cy Young as the only players to throw three or more no-hitters in their careers.
Ryan recorded seven no-hitters in his career and Koufax four.
“I’d be lying if I said I didn’t know that the list of guys who have thrown three instead of two gets pretty small — some of the guys I’ve idolized,” Verlander said.
Since no-hitting Toronto eight years ago, Verlander has earned an American League Cy Young Award, a Most Valuable Player Award and a World Series title with the Astros in 2017.
But even as he kept the Blue Jays at bay inning after inning he was keenly aware of how a no-hit bid can come undone.
The game was scoreless until the top of the ninth, when Astros rookie Abraham Toro delivered a two-out, two-run home run.
Alex Bregman had led off the inning with a hit to shallow right field — hustling to second base.
And it was Toro who fielded Bo Bichette’s ground ball to record the final out and seal Verlander’s no-hitter.
“Man, I can’t put it into words,” Verlander said. “I mean, I’ve been so close to the third one so many times, it just didn’t happen and then tonight, Abraham Toro comes up with a huge homer.
“Only fitting that he was able to make the last out,” he added. “Ball is in play, you’re just hoping that it’s an out — make an out, make an out, make an out, good throw, good throw, good throw. Let’s celebrate.”
The Astros now have two of the four no-hitters thrown this season. The other was a combined effort by Aaron Sanchez, Will Harris, Joe Biagini and Chris Devenski against Seattle on August 3.
Oakland’s Mike Fiers and a combined effort by the Angels’ Taylor Cole and Felix Cole are the other two.