Astros Pitchers Throw Combined No-Hitter Against Rangers

Sometimes the breakthrough you need comes when you least expect it. Tatsuya Imai, who had been struggling badly in his first major league season, helped lead the Houston Astros to a combined no-hitter against the Texas Rangers on Monday night with a dominant 9-0 win.

Imai threw six strong innings, getting 16 straight outs after a shaky start. The 28-year-old Japanese pitcher walked three of his first four batters but found his rhythm after a double play helped him escape the first inning.

He handed the ball to reliever Steven Okert for the seventh inning, having thrown 97 pitches with two strikeouts. Okert worked through the seventh before Alimber Santa made his major league debut in the eighth, retiring all six batters he faced to complete the historic game.

The no-hitter was the 17th in Astros history and the first in the majors since September 2024. It came at a crucial moment for Imai, who signed a three-year, $54 million contract with Houston after eight successful seasons in Japan.

The Bright Side

Before Monday night, Imai's MLB journey had been rough. He entered the game with a 1-2 record and an 8.31 ERA through his first five starts, even spending time on the injured list just a month into his career.

But this performance showed flashes of the pitcher who struck out 178 batters in Japan last season and earned three All-Star selections. The defense backed him up too, with shortstop Jeremy Peña making a spectacular backhand stop and twisting throw for an out in the third inning.

Santa's debut added another layer of excitement to the night. His 24th pitch, a called third strike, ended the game after the batter challenged the call and it was confirmed.

For a team and a pitcher searching for answers, Monday night provided hope that better days are ahead.