Astros’ Framber Valdez Amazes Twitter With Dominance in No-Hitter vs. Guardians | News, Scores, Highlights, Stats, and Rumors

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Houston Astros starting pitcher Framber Valdez, center, is embraced by catcher Martin Maldonado and third baseman Alex Bregman after throwing a no-hitter against the Cleveland Guardians, Tuesday, Aug. 1, 2023, in Houston. (AP Photo/Kevin M. Cox)

AP Photo/Kevin M. Cox

Framber Valdez 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.

MLB @MLB

Framber Valdez is the first lefty in <a href=”https://twitter.com/astros?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>@Astros</a> history to throw a no-hitter. <a href=”https://t.co/8uspLTGXS0″>pic.twitter.com/8uspLTGXS0</a>

He was the peak of efficiency, needing only 93 pitches to get the job done:

And MLB Twitter was loving it:

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:<br><br>Carlos Ruiz &amp; Jason Varitek, with 4 each <a href=”https://t.co/VmoQRrbJR3″>https://t.co/VmoQRrbJR3</a>

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 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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