AP Photo/Kevin M. Cox
Framber Valdez has joined the no-no club.
The Houston Astros ace pitched the third no-hitter of the 2023 MLB season and the first of his career on Tuesday, giving up just one walk and striking out seven Cleveland Guardians batters en route to a 2-0 win at Minute Maid Park.
MLB @MLB
Framber Valdez is the first lefty in @Astros history to throw a no-hitter. pic.twitter.com/8uspLTGXS0
He was at the peak of efficiency, needing only 93 pitches to get the job done:
Baseball Reference @baseball_ref
🚨 A NO-HITTER FOR FRAMBER VALDEZ 🚨
Valdez threw just 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’s the 16th no-hitter in Astros history, including the World Series. They threw two combined no-hitters last year.
The previous pitcher to throw a complete no-hitter for the Astros? Justin Verlander on Sept. 1, 2019.
Bob Nightengale @BNightengale
Valdez is the first left-handed pitcher in #Astros franchise history to throw a no-hitter https://t.co/mtJZkwpmk2
Jayson Stark @jaysonst
On a day when the Astros traded for a guy with three no-hitters, their starting pitcher threw a no-hitter …
Because baseball!
Charean Williams @NFLCharean
Astros delivered a message to the rest of the league today. https://t.co/UoDiEZuVU0
Patrick Creighton @PCreighton1
Pure domination from Framber Valdez tonight! Just FILTHY!#NoHitter!!!!
Framber allowed 1 walk but faced the minimum as he induced a double play.
He struck out 7
He threw 93 pitches, 65 strikes.
He lowers his ERA to 3.07 and improves to 9-7. https://t.co/Nql5GQ81Bz
Adam Schein @AdamSchein
Everything is coming up Astros…
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. Beware of the reigning champs.
So on the same day the defending champs got Justin Verlander back in a trade with the New York Mets—a deal that will 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 option if it vests,” per ESPN’s Alden Gonzalez and Jeff Passan—they also get a no-hitter from Valdez.
How was your Tuesday?
Another fun 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 3rd-most in MLB history, behind only:
Carlos Ruiz & Jason Varitek, with 4 each https://t.co/VmoQRrbJR3
The only thing that didn’t go the Astros’ way was that they didn’t make up any ground on the Texas Rangers, who beat the Chicago White Sox 2-0 on Tuesday. The Rangers (61-46) remain a half game ahead of the Astros (61-47) in the AL West.
The Astros, however, are firmly in a wild-card spot, four games clear of the Boston Red Sox. They are 11-6 since the All-Star break, and the addition of Verlander has them looking very much like favorites in the American League.
It should be a fun two months down the stretch as Houston prepares, yet again, for October baseball.
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