Dominican pitcher Ronel Blanco threw a no-hitter as the Houston Astros bagged their first win of the season with a 10-0 rout of the Toronto Blue Jays on Monday.
The Astros, swept 4-0 by the New York Yankees in their opening series of the new season, bounced back in style to thrash the Blue Jays at Minute Maid Park.
Blanco’s gem laid the foundation for victory, with the 30-year-old bagging a no-hitter in only his eighth start in Major League Baseball.
The pitcher was only elevated to the Astros’ rotation for the start of the season following injuries to Justin Verlander and Jose Urquidy.
But he retired 26 batters in a row after walking former Houston star George Springer in the first and ninth innings.
Blanco’s no-hitter was the earliest ever recorded in a season.
rcw/pst
