Astros Pitchers Combine for No-Hitter Against Rangers

The Houston Astros defeated the Texas Rangers 9-0 on Monday night behind a combined no-hitter from right-hander Tatsuya Imai and relievers Steven Okert and Alimber Santa. Imai pitched the first six innings, allowing no hits after walking three of the first four batters he faced.

Okert followed with a scoreless seventh inning, and Santa, making his major league debut, retired all six batters he faced over the final two innings. Houston manager Joe Espada said the outcome was unexpected after the first inning. "The first inning, you never thought that this was going to be the outcome of the game," Espada said.

"Imai, he continued to compete. He continued to pound the zone, he fought through it. His final pitch, a called third strike against a Rangers batter, ended the game after an automated ball-strike system challenge. The Rangers were held without a hit for the sixth time and for the third time at Globe Life Field since 2020.

232 with 201 runs through 53 games.

The 630 days since the previous major league no-hitter was the longest drought across MLB since 2004 to 2006. Houston has authored three of the past seven and five of the past 11 major league no-hitters. Ronel Blanco threw the previous no-hitter for the Astros in a 10-0 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays on April 1, 2024.

The team also combined for a no-hitter in the 2022 World Series against the Philadelphia Phillies.