Houston Astros pitchers Tatsuya Imai, Steven Okert, and Alimber Santa combined to no-hit the Texas Rangers in a 9-0 win Monday night at Globe Life Field [1, 2, 3].
Imai started and threw six no-hit innings with 97 pitches, walking four batters and striking out two [1, 3]. Okert pitched the seventh inning, while Santa retired all batters faced across the eighth and ninth innings [1, 2, 3]. The final out came on a called third strike against Brandon Nimmo, upheld after an automated balls and strikes system review [1, 2].
Alimber Santa made his Major League debut during the no-hitter, becoming the first MLB pitcher since 1900 to take part in a no-hitter in his first game [1, 3]. Santa, 23, said, "Yeah, there was some adrenaline. I was aware of the no-hitter, but I was just trying to calm myself down from the bullpen" [3].
Imai, a 28-year-old rookie, joined Houston in January on a three-year, $54 million contract after eight seasons pitching in Japan's Pacific League [2]. Though he walked four batters early, Imai settled in and retired 15 of his last 16 hitters [1, 2, 3]. Astros manager Joe Espada praised his performance, saying, "I tip my hat to Imai. He pitched. He continued to compete" [1]. Espada also celebrated Santa, calling it "a big night for him and his family" and "huge for the organization" [3].
This was the 17th regular-season no-hitter in Astros history and their fourth combined no-hitter, the first since Ronel Blanco's in April 2024 [3]. It marked the sixth time the Texas Rangers have been no-hit, last occurring when Corey Kluber did so in May 2021 [2]. The previous MLB no-hitter took place 629 days ago on September 4, 2024, when Shota Imanaga and two Chicago Cubs relievers no-hit the Pittsburgh Pirates [1, 2, 3].
The Astros have scheduled their next game against the Minnesota Twins at Minute Maid Park on Tuesday night.
