SEATTLE MARINERS

Houston Astros’ Ronel Blanco throws first no-hitter of 2024

Apr 1, 2024, 8:57 PM | Updated: 10:06 pm

Ronel Blanco...

Ronel Blanco of the Houston Astros celebrates after pitching a no-hitter on April 1, 2024. (Logan Riely/Getty Images)

(Logan Riely/Getty Images)

HOUSTON (AP) — Ronel Blanco put a bow on a remarkable week.

In a span of seven days, the Houston right-hander welcomed a new daughter, made his first opening day roster — and then threw the first no-hitter in the major leagues this season.

Canzone homers, Julio thrills in field as Mariners beat Guardians 5-4

Blanco struck out seven and walked two in the Astros’ 10-0 win over the Toronto Blue Jays on Monday night. The 30-year-old, who didn’t play in the majors until he was 28, was making just his eighth career start. He wouldn’t even be in Houston’s rotation if not for injuries to Justin Verlander and José Urquidy.

“It’s been a very long road traveled for me,” he said in Spanish through a translator. “A lot of ups, a lot of downs, a lot of falls, a lot of me getting back up. But I think all of that has been worth it for me to be able to get to this moment.”

He walked George Springer to start the game and again with two outs in the ninth. When Vladimir Guerrero Jr. grounded out to end it, Blanco smiled broadly before raising his arms above his head just before being mobbed by teammates.

“I see it as a great blessing, a great blessing for me and my family,” he said. “With the arrival of my daughter I see it as a life-changing experience and I dedicate this to my family and my daughter.”

It was the 17th no-hitter in Astros history and the first in the majors since Philadelphia’s Michael Lorenzen threw one against the Washington Nationals on Aug. 9 of last year.

Houston’s previous no-hitter came about a week before that one when Framber Valdez did it in a 2-0 win over Cleveland on Aug. 1.

Kyle Tucker and Yainer Diaz each homered twice as the Astros won their first game of the season after losing four to the Yankees. Houston’s Joe Espada became the first manager in major league history to get his first win in a no-hitter.

“I couldn’t be any happier for the way today turned out,” Espada said.

Texas Rangers All-Star 3B Josh Jung fractures right wrist

The Astros are the fourth team in MLB history to get their first win of the season in a no-hitter, and the first since Boston’s Hideo Nomo pitched one against the Orioles in 2001. Nomo’s no-hitter that year came on April 4. That was the record for the earliest no-hitter by calendar date, according to Sportradar, but Blanco’s gem broke the mark by three days.

Blanco threw 105 pitches, averaging 93.6 mph with 31 fastballs and also throwing 36 changeups, 34 sliders and four curveballs.

Espada said the changeup was the key to Blanco’s success Monday.

“It makes the fastball and the slider that much better,” he said. “The way it comes out of the hand, it looks just like his fastball and hitters are committed to potentially swinging at a fastball and the ball just kind of falls in the zone. It’s a pitch that he’s worked really hard on and it paid big dividends tonight.”

Toronto manager John Schneider agreed.

“Really good changeup, it was almost like a split, slider combo,” he said. “Give him credit — that’s really hard to do. I know he hasn’t been starting much but he was really good and his changeup was outstanding.”

The Dominican righty sailed through the game and didn’t need too many big plays from his defense, although with one out in the ninth, Cavan Biggio hit a grounder to the right side. First baseman Jose Abreu fielded it diving to his right and then, while still on the ground, threw to Blanco covering first for the out.

“The play had to be made,” Abreu said. “That’s the only thing I was thinking about.”

In the eighth, Alejandro Kirk hit a ball that Blanco deflected, and it rolled away from him. Mauricio Dubón, who had just entered the game for Jose Altuve at second base, charged in and grabbed it before making the throw to first to retire Kirk.

Blanco had never pitched a complete game as a professional and hadn’t pitched more than six innings.

The Astros tagged Toronto’s Bowden Francis (0-1) for 10 hits and seven runs in his first major league start.

Seattle Mariners coverage

How worrisome is Mariners lineup’s early strikeout rate?
Three big questions after Mariners split their opening series
Andrés Muñoz already dominant for Mariners and has new weapon
What’s the next step for Seattle Mariners’ George Kirby?
Is the Seattle Mariners’ defense going to be a big concern this year?

Mariners Roof Report

Brought to you by
Rain Showers
High 53° | Low 46°
No game today.

Seattle Mariners

Seattle Mariners Justin Turner veteran...

Brent Stecker

Justin Turner proved Mariners need his veteran presence back

One of the Seattle Mariners’ moves before the 2024 MLB trade deadline made an impact, even if it wasn’t enough to get the team back into the playoffs. The change that would help Mariners’ bats? Pushing the fences back Seattle’s trade with the Toronto Blue Jays for veteran first baseman Justin Turner looked good on […]

2 hours ago

MLB free agency Roki Sasaki...

The Associated Press

Japanese ace Roki Sasaki to become available to MLB teams this offseason

The Chiba Lotte Marines announced they have chosen to start the process of moving pitcher Roki Sasaki to an MLB club via the posting system.

5 hours ago

Seattle Mariners fences wall T-Mobile Park Julio Rodríguez no fly zone...

Brent Stecker

The change that would help Mariners’ bats? Pushing the fences back

The Mariners moved T-Mobile Park's fences in over a decade ago, but offense is still hard to come by in Seattle. There's a reason it may be time to go back.

21 hours ago

Seattle Mariners offseason target Christian Walker...

Zac Hereth

M’s Free Agency: Why Christian Walker is the 1B Seattle should pursue

MLB Network's Jon Morosi explains why Christian Walker is the first baseman the Seattle Mariners should be aiming for this offseason.

1 day ago

Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh...

Shannon Drayer

Cal Raleigh becomes Mariners’ first Platinum Glove winner

The Seattle Mariners' switch-hitting catcher took home the honor that is awarded to the top overall defensive player in each league.

2 days ago

Seattle Mariners George Kirby Red Sox 2024...

Ronald Blum

Mariners starting pitcher among MLB’s early arbitration qualifiers

Two other former Seattle Mariners were among the 29 players who qualified for arbitration before three full years of MLB service time.

3 days ago

Houston Astros’ Ronel Blanco throws first no-hitter of 2024