HOUSTON — What a way for the Houston Astros to pick up their first win of the season after Ronel Blanco threw his first career no-hitter Monday night.
The Astros defeated the Toronto Blue Jays, 10-0, as Blanco made history at Minute Maid Park.
“2-2 to Guerrero. Ground ball. Blanco lets it go by. Dubon fields. Throws to first, in time! A no-hitter! Ronel Blanco! Yainer Diaz is the first to jump into his arms and the rest of his teammates come out to mob him!” the Astros radio broadcaster Robert Ford said with the call of the final out. “Ronel Blanco has thrown the 17th no-hitter in Houston Astros history as the Astros defeat the Toronto Blue Jays, 10 to nothing.”
Blanco struck out seven and walked two in the Astros' win. The 30-year-old, who didn't play in the majors until he was 28, was making just his eighth career start.
Listen to the radio call of the final out below:
“What a performance by the Astros for their first win of the season and for Joe Espada’s first-ever win as a big-league manager,” Ford said.
“Blanco just found out six days ago he was going to be in the rotation,” Astros radio broadcaster Steve Sparks said. “Their fifth starter, fifth game of the season, and he makes history with a gem. What a performance from Ronel Blanco."
Listen to the Spanish call of Ronel Blanco's no-hitter
Here is the Spanish call of the final out from Astros announcer Francisco Romero. It was the eighth Astros no-hitter he had ever called.
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.
Espada became the first manager in major league history to get his first win in a no-hitter.