AP Photograph/Kevin M. Cox
Framber Valdez has joined the no-no membership.
The Houston Astros ace pitched the third no-hitter of the 2023 MLB season and the primary of his profession on Tuesday, giving up only one stroll and placing out seven Cleveland Guardians batters en path to a 2-0 win at Minute Maid Park.
MLB @MLB
Framber Valdez is the primary lefty in @Astros historical past to throw a no-hitter. pic.twitter.com/8uspLTGXS0
He was on the peak of effectivity, needing solely 93 pitches to get the job achieved:
Baseball Reference @baseball_ref
🚨 A NO-HITTER FOR FRAMBER VALDEZ 🚨
Valdez threw simply 93 pitches, the fewest in a no-hitter since David Cone in 1999.@Astros | #Ready2Reign pic.twitter.com/a8QiQUoOec
And MLB Twitter was loving it:
Brian McTaggart @brianmctaggart
That is the sixteenth no-hitter in Astros historical past, together with the World Sequence. They threw two mixed no-hitters final 12 months.
The earlier pitcher to throw a whole no-hitter for the Astros? Justin Verlander on Sept. 1, 2019.
Bob Nightengale @BNightengale
Valdez is the primary left-handed pitcher in #Astros franchise historical past to throw a no-hitter https://t.co/mtJZkwpmk2
Jayson Stark @jaysonst
On a day when the Astros traded for a man with three no-hitters, their beginning pitcher threw a no-hitter …
As a result of baseball!
Charean Williams @NFLCharean
Astros delivered a message to the remainder of the league at the moment. https://t.co/UoDiEZuVU0
Patrick Creighton @PCreighton1
Pure domination from Framber Valdez tonight! Simply FILTHY!#NoHitter!!!!
Framber allowed 1 stroll however confronted the minimal as he induced a double play.
He struck out 7
He threw 93 pitches, 65 strikes.He lowers his ERA to three.07 and improves to 9-7. https://t.co/Nql5GQ81Bz
Apollo Dez @ApolloDez1
FRAMBER VALDEZ WITH THE NO HITTER IN HOUSTON TEXAS. WHAT A NIGHT FOR THE STAFF ACE. THE FRAMCHISE. HIS VERY FIRST MLB NO HITTER!!! PLAY FRAMBERS SONG!! pic.twitter.com/6FzMqcjdhS
Ben Verlander @BenVerlander
FRAMBER VALDEZ NO-HITTER!!!
THE VIBES IN H-TOWN ARE AT AN ALL TIME HIGH!!! pic.twitter.com/RdLTvvwz3U
Roosh @RooshWilliams
Justin Verlander returns. Framber Valdez throws a no-hitter. Watch out for the reigning champs.
So on the identical day the defending champs received Justin Verlander again in a commerce with the New York Mets—a deal that may see the Mets pay “$35 million out of the $58 million remaining on Verlander’s deal in 2023 and 2024 and $17.5 million of his 2025 possibility if it vests,” per ESPN’s Alden Gonzalez and Jeff Passan—additionally they get a no-hitter from Valdez.
How was your Tuesday?
One other enjoyable factoid from Valdez’s no-no—it was the third one caught by Martin Maldonado:
Sarah Langs @SlangsOnSports
Martin Maldonado has now caught 3 no-hitters, tied for Third-most in MLB historical past, behind solely:
Carlos Ruiz & Jason Varitek, with 4 every https://t.co/VmoQRrbJR3
The one factor that did not go the Astros’ approach was that they did not make up any floor on the Texas Rangers, who beat the Chicago White Sox 2-0 on Tuesday. The Rangers (61-46) stay a half recreation forward of the Astros (61-47) within the AL West.
The Astros, nonetheless, are firmly in a wild-card spot, 4 video games away from the Boston Crimson Sox. They’re 11-6 for the reason that All-Star break, and the addition of Verlander has them trying very very like favorites within the American League.
It ought to be a enjoyable two months down the stretch as Houston prepares, but once more, for October baseball.
