ARLINGTON, Texas — Tatsuya Imai’s inauspicious introduction to Major League Baseball is over. So, too, may be the Houston Astros’ burden as baseball’s worst pitching staff.Imai spun six hitless innings Monday night at Globe Life Field before two relievers followed to finish the 18th no-hitter in franchise history during a 9-0 win against the Texas Rangers.Alimber Santa, a 23-year-old Dominican right-hander making his major-league debut, secured the final six outs of baseball’s first no-hitter of any kind since 2024. Teammates mobbed Santa around the pitcher’s mound following the victory.Blake Snell, then of the San Francisco Giants, threw the sport’s last solo no-no on Aug. 2, 2024. The last Astros no-hitter was thrown by Ronel Blanco on April 1, 2024.Monday’s three-pitcher no-hitter is the Astros’ fifth combined no-hitter in team history. The last came during Game 4 of the 2022 World Series at Citizens Bank Park.
Monday’s feat was not nearly as improbable, but still came amid adversity for the Astros and Imai. Houston entered play Monday with the sport’s highest ERA, a byproduct of injuries to most of their season-opening rotation and ineffectiveness by those who’ve stayed healthy.No one epitomized Houston’s struggles more than Imai, the heralded, 28-year-old Japanese right-hander Houston signed to a three-year, $54 million deal this winter. Struggles adjusting to life on and off the field left him with an 8.31 ERA after his first five major-league starts.Monday, Imai threw just nine of his first 24 pitches for strikes. He walked three of the first four batters he faced, forcing pitching coach Josh Miller to make a mound visit and Houston’s bullpen to begin moving.Following Miller’s visit, Imai threw 46 of his final 73 pitches for strikes. He evaded danger throughout the ensuing five innings, even though only one Ranger reached base. After Brandon Nimmo did so, Ezequiel Duran bounced into a 4-6-3 double play to erase him. Texas hit into two double plays against Imai and struck seven balls at 95 mph or harder.None found grass. Danny Jansen’s fifth-inning fly ball came the closest, traveling 373 feet into the warning track in left-center field. Jake Meyers, one of baseball’s most underrated defensive center fielders, snagged Jansen’s line drive before slamming face-first into the left field wall.Imai bent to one knee when Jansen struck the baseball, a pose often reserved for a pitcher who believes they just surrendered a home run. He craned his neck toward center field, watched Meyers’ magnificent catch and made a stress-free stroll off the field.After authoring a 6.08 ERA across their first 32 games, Houston’s pitching staff has posted a 3.71 mark in 23 May games.May 26, 2026Connections: Sports EditionSpot the pattern. Connect the termsFind the hidden link between sports terms
