Houston Astros' Framber Valdez throws season's third no-hitter

The Houston Astros' Framber Valdez threw the season's third no-hitter, blanking the Cleveland Guardians in a 2-0 win at Minute Maid Park on Tuesday night.

This is the fifth Astros no-hitter since the 2019 season and 16th in team history. The 16 no-hitters represents the most for any MLB expansion franchise added since 1961.

“Just Framber being Framber,” Astros catcher Martín Maldonado said.

Earlier this season, the New York Yankees' Domingo Germán threw baseball's first perfect game since 2012 and three Detroit Tigers pitchers joined forces for the first combined no-hitter in franchise history.

Valdez needed just 93 pitches to complete the gem, striking out seven batters in the process. The 93 pitches is the fewest in a no-hitter since David Cone threw 88 pitches in a perfect game against the Montreal Expos in 1999, per ESPN Stats & Info.

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“The last couple of games I just wasn’t as focused as I could have been and I’ll be the first to admit that,” Valdez said in Spanish through a translator. “But today I just came very focused, very positive and just ready to leave it all out on the field.”

Said Maldonado: “I noticed from the bullpen, he wasn’t joking around. He was straight business from the moment he walked out there.”

Valdez's only blemish was a lead-off walk administered to Oscar Gonzalez in the fifth inning. Valdez had retired the first 12 batters, with six strikeouts, before Gonzalez walked. However, Valdez still faced the minimum in that inning thanks to a double play. In the seventh inning, Valdez deflected a high chopper hit by José Ramírez and Jeremy Pena’s throw to first barely beat Ramírez there for the third out.

“When I got to the seventh inning I thought to myself, ‘OK, I can finish this game without any hits,’” Valdez said. “Got to the eighth inning and still felt good, felt like it was still the first inning so I said. 'I’m just going to continue attacking the hitters, trying to do my best out there.’”

Last season, the Astros had two combined no-hitters, the first on June 25 against the New York Yankees and the second in Game 4 of the World Series against the Philadelphia Phillies.

It was a big day for the Astros, who also made a blockbuster trade for future Hall of Fame pitcher Justin Verlander, who threw a no-hitter while with the Astros in 2019.

“It was sort of destined to be,” manager Dusty Baker said of Valdez recording the Astros' first solo no-hitter since Verlander's on the day Verlander returned to the team. “And I’m sure Justin is smiling right now on his way here and he’ll be the first one to congratulate Framber when he gets here. It’s a great day.”

Contributing: Associated Press