Blanco pitches a no-hitter as Houston dominates Toronto | Latest News on Sports and Jobs

HOUSTON (AP) — Ronel Blanco of the Houston Astros made history on Monday night by throwing the first no-hitter of the major league season, shutting out the Toronto Blue Jays 10-0.

The right-hander put on a stellar performance, striking out seven batters and walking only two. Blanco’s no-hitter was the 17th in Astros history and the first in the majors since last year when Philadelphia’s Michael Lorenzen achieved the feat against the Washington Nationals.

In another exciting game, the Chicago Cubs defeated the Colorado Rockies 5-0, with Shota Imanaga impressing in his major league debut. Imanaga, a Japanese left-hander, signed a lucrative contract with the Cubs and showcased his talent by striking out nine batters in six innings.

The Atlanta Braves also had a dominant performance, beating the Chicago White Sox 9-0 in a rain-shortened game. Austin Riley’s three-run homer and Charlie Morton’s solid pitching led the Braves to victory, handing the White Sox their fourth consecutive loss.

In other games, the Pittsburgh Pirates improved to 5-0 for the first time since 1983 with an 8-4 win over the Washington Nationals, while the Baltimore Orioles edged past the Kansas City Royals 6-4 thanks to Jordan Westburg’s game-winning two-run homer in the ninth inning.

The Texas Rangers defeated the Tampa Bay Rays 9-3, with Dane Dunning pitching a gem and Josh Jung contributing with a homer and four RBIs. The Cincinnati Reds also secured a 6-3 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies in 10 innings, highlighted by Spencer Steer’s grand slam.

Lastly, the Detroit Tigers extended their unbeaten streak to 4-0 with a 5-0 win over the New York Mets in 10 innings, thanks to Carson Kelly’s three-run homer in the extra frame. The Mets, on the other hand, fell to 0-4 for the first time since 2005.