ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) 鈥� The Houston Astros have pitched several combined no-hitters 鈥� even one in the World Series. This latest gem, however, might have been the biggest surprise of all.
Japanese right-hander Tatsuya Imai threw six hitless innings after walking three of the first four batters he faced Monday night. Steven Okert then got three outs before Alimber Santa made his major league debut and retired the final six hitters to complete the Astros’ 17th regular-season no-hitter 鈥� four of them combined efforts 鈥� in a 9-0 win over the Texas Rangers.
鈥淭he first inning, you never thought that this was going to be the outcome of the game,鈥� manager Joe Espada said. 鈥淚mai, he continued to compete. … He continued to pound the zone, he fought through it. Six strong innings, and then the rest is history.”
It was the first no-hitter in the major leagues since over Pittsburgh on Sept. 4, 2024. No pitcher has tossed a complete-game no-hitter since Blake Snell for the San Francisco Giants against Cincinnati on Aug. 2, 2024.
The 23-year-old Santa fired two perfect innings to finish it and became the first pitcher since 1900 to play any role in a no-hitter during his big league debut, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.
鈥淵eah, there was some adrenaline,鈥� Santa said through a translator. 鈥淚 was aware of the no-hitter, but I was just trying to calm myself down from the bullpen.鈥�
for the Astros in a 10-0 victory over Toronto on April 1, 2024, which also marked Espada鈥檚 first win as manager. In fact, Houston has authored three of the past seven and five of the last 11 major league no-hitters 鈥� beginning with one in the 2022 World Series when .
Okert worked the seventh after Imai got 16 outs over the last 16 batters he faced. He benefited from a double play in the first, then settled into a groove after issuing his third walk.
鈥淒uring pregame, our focus was attacking the zone,鈥� Imai said through a translator. 鈥淏ut in the first inning, I felt unbalanced, the timing was off. But after that inning, I was able to adjust the timing, all the rhythm and stuff.鈥�
Santa entered in the eighth and retired all six batters he faced. His 24th pitch was a called third strike against Brandon Nimmo to end it for his first big league strikeout. That was confirmed after an ABS challenge by Nimmo of the final pitch.
鈥淚 wasn’t sure,鈥� Santa said, but catcher Christian V谩zquez was already on the mound telling him, 鈥淗ey stud, that’s a strike.鈥�
The Rangers were held without a hit for the sixth time, the first since for the New York Yankees on May 19, 2021.
Imai鈥檚 fourth walk of the night was to Nimmo leading off the fourth inning, but Ezequiel Duran then grounded into a double play.
Imai (2-2) threw 57 of his 97 pitches for strikes. He struck out two.
The 28-year-old Imai, who said his only previous no-hitter came in middle school, is in his first big league season after coming over from Japan. He was 1-2 with an 8.31 ERA in his first five starts for Houston.
Imai joined the Astros in January after agreeing He was a three-time All-Star during eight seasons in Japan, and went 10-5 with a 1.92 ERA last season for the Pacific League鈥檚 Seibu Lions, striking out 178 in 163 2/3 innings.
Rangers leadoff hitter Joc Pederson was retired on a nifty play in the third when shortstop Jeremy Pe帽a made a backhand stop and a twisting throw to first for the out. Justin Foscue and Danny Jansen had deep flyouts into the left-center gap in the Texas fifth.
Okert walked Nimmo leading off the seventh before retiring the next three batters.
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