The Houston Astros faced off against the Cleveland Guardians on Tuesday, and it was a special day for Astros starting pitcher Framber Valdez that certainly caught the attention of the MLB world.
Valdez came into the game off of perhaps the worst stretch of baseball in his career. In four starts in the month of July, he recorded a 7.29 ERA.
Expectations couldn’t have been that high for Valdez from most fans considering this poor stretch of play as of late. However, he produced the best game of the year for the Astros, dominating the Guardians and recording a perfect game on just 93 pitches.
Framber Valdez no-hits the Guardians on just 93 pitches! pic.twitter.com/RazcvEQkL6
— MLB (@MLB) August 2, 2023
The final out of the game came on a pop-up from Guardians catcher Cam Gallagher, and Valdez quickly ran in and shared an embrace with his catcher after the no-hitter was complete.
Framber Valdez is the first lefty in @Astros history to throw a no-hitter. pic.twitter.com/8uspLTGXS0
— MLB (@MLB) August 2, 2023
It was a great day for the Astros, who also re-acquired Justin Verlander in a trade with the New York Mets. But fans clearly thought this was the greatest feat of the day for the Astros.
NO-HITTER 🚀
Framber Valdez notches the 3️⃣rd no-hitter this season‼️ pic.twitter.com/siOfDCVfhH
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) August 2, 2023
Cruise control.
Framber Valdez faced the minimum 27 batters in tonight’s dominant no-hitter. pic.twitter.com/nBqx0dEfJc
— MLB (@MLB) August 2, 2023
FRAMBER VALDEZ NO-HITTER!!!
THE VIBES IN H-TOWN ARE AT AN ALL TIME HIGH!!! pic.twitter.com/RdLTvvwz3U
— Ben Verlander (@BenVerlander) August 2, 2023
YALL. I BOUGHT A FRAMBER VALDEZ JERSEY AT THE TEAM STORE TONIGHT AND HE PROCEEDED TO THROW A NO-HITTER. OMG I’M SHAKING. pic.twitter.com/GzbKuFDKK1
— Astros Josh (@AstrosJosh) August 2, 2023
NO HITTER FRAMBER VALDEZ
WHAT A DAY IN HOUSTON https://t.co/Sh2RkXxy7f
— Barstool Baseball (@StoolBaseball) August 2, 2023
The view from the field when Framber Valdez finished the No-Hit Maddux! 👏
(via @MLB)pic.twitter.com/J6YXQURGxZ
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) August 2, 2023
Funny enough, the last no-hitter by a single pitcher in Astros history came from Verlander back in 2019, so it is extremely fitting for it to happen on the day he was traded back to his team.
What a day for the Astros:
This afternoon: Acquired Justin Verlander from the Mets
Tonight: Framber Valdez threw the first solo no-hitter by an Astros pitcher since… Justin Verlander in 2019. pic.twitter.com/gy9Ru9C0jv
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) August 2, 2023
Only one walk from Guardians designated hitter Oscar Gonzalez in the top of the fifth inning kept Valdez from a perfect game, which is a moment that he will surely regret.
Regardless, it was one of the most impressive no-hitters in recent memory, only taking 93 pitches to get through the game. Valdez’s 93-pitch no-hitter is the fewest in a no-hitter since David Cone in 1999.
Framber Valdez threw a no-hitter for the Astros, needing only 93 pitches.
That is the fewest pitches thrown in a no-hitter or perfect game since David Cone in 1999.
Cone threw 88 pitches in a perfect game vs the Expos. pic.twitter.com/LqKtTPZoKV
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) August 2, 2023
With this win, the Astros now only trail the Texas Rangers for the American League West lead by only half a game.
