Astros no-hitter: Ronel Blanco blanks Blue Jays in eighth career start, throws earliest no-no in MLB history

Houston Astros right-hander Ronel Blanco threw the first no-hitter of Major League Baseball's new season on Monday night, blanking the Toronto Blue Jays in near-perfect fashion as part of a 10-0 victory (box score). In just his eighth career MLB start, Blanco walked the leadoff batter, George Springer, before retiring everyone else until there were two outs in the bottom of the ninth. Coincidentally, Blanco then walked Springer again before coercing Vladimir Guerrero Jr. into a ground out to end the game and cement his place in history.

Blanco, 30, opened the season in Houston's rotation in large part due to injuries to more established pitchers. The Astros are currently without Justin Verlander, José Urquidy, Lance McCullers Jr., and Luis Garcia. Blanco entered the year with a career 4.78 ERA (88 ERA+) and a 1.84 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 58 1/3 innings pitched.

Afterward, Blanco said that he did not realize he was about to make history until he started the ninth inning. His historic showing comes just a week after his wife gave birth to their daughter. Here's a look at the final out:

The April 1 no-hitter is the earliest one in MLB history.

Blanco's changeup proved to be the key to his evening. He threw it 36 times, or two more than any other pitch in his arsenal. He generated 10 swinging strikes on the cambio and showed an improved appetite for using it against same-handed batters. Indeed, Blanco threw his changeup all of 13 times last season against righties; on Monday night, he threw it 25 times.

Blanco also benefitted from some nifty defense, including to lead off the eighth inning. Blue Jays catcher Alejandro Kirk hit a ball that deflected off Blanco's glove. Yet second baseman Mauricio Dubón was able to recover the ball and record the out anyway.

Credit the Astros with providing Blanco with plenty of run support. Kyle Tucker and Yainer Díaz both launched two home runs and combined to drive in six of Houston's 10 runs. Jeremy Peña also homered and delivered three RBI of his own.

Blanco's no-no is the 17th in Astros franchise history. It's the first since Framber Valdez did it on Aug. 1 last year against the Cleveland Guardians. The Astros have made a habit out of throwing no-hitters in recent seasons, delivering four of the league's last seven. Cristian Javier contributed to combined efforts in both the 2022 World Series (against the Philadelphia Phillies) and in June 2022 against the New York Yankees.

Additionally, Blanco's no-hitter is the 323rd in MLB history. Michael Lorenzen, now of the Texas Rangers, had thrown the most recent no-no last August, when he blanked the Washington Nationals as a member of the Philadelphia Phillies. 

Monday's victory marks the first of Houston's season. They opened the year with a four-game sweep at home at the hands of the New York Yankees.