Whether authored by Nolan Ryan or Mike Scott or Ronel Blanco or a cast of several to nail down a World Series victory, the Houston Astros simply have a way with no-hitters.
And the one they spun Monday, May 25 might have been the unlikeliest of the 18 no-hitters in franchise history.
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Tatsuya Imai, their splash free agent pitching acquisition who was so disappointing he was stashed on the injured list just two starts into his career, pitched the first six innings of a three-man relay and relievers Steven Okert and Alimber Santa – making his major-league debut – took care of the final three innings as the Astros subdued the Texas Rangers, winning 9-0 at Globe Life Park in Arlington.
It was the first no-hitter since Shota Imanaga and a pair of Chicago Cubs relievers combined to no-hit the Pittsburgh Pirates on Sept. 4, 2024.
Imai walked the first two batters of the game. Santa had never thrown a major league pitch before Monday night. Yet somehow, they started and finished a thorough suppression of the Rangers.
Then again, lots of teams are doing that these days.
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Just one night before, Los Angeles Angels lefty Reid Detmers struck out 14 Rangers and allowed just a solo homer and the Rangers managed just one more hit in losing to the Angels.
This time, a lineup missing Corey Seager drew just two walks against the Astros’ trio. And even if the competition was meager, Imai’s performance was surely a relief to Houston: Signed for $54 million, he was shipped to the injured list after just three starts, admitting he was struggling acclimating to life in the major leagues and the USA.
He spent five weeks working his way back, yet still entered Monday’s game with an 8.31 ERA in five starts.
By night’s end, he had the biggest piece of the fifth combined no-hitter in franchise history.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Tatsuya Imai, Steven Okert and Alimber Santa combine to no-hit Rangers
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