Justin VerlanderAlthough he missed his fourth no-hitter with five outs, he still had the minimum through eight innings and the Houston AstrosBeat the Minnesota TwinsFor their eighth consecutive win, they won 5-0 Tuesday night.
Twins’ third baseman Gio UrshelaVerlander was thrown out at the plate in the eighth. Verlander was left field. In his first season since Tommy John surgery, the 39-year old right-hander finished the eighth with a win. Royce LewisTo ground into a double-play
Verlander was competing to tie Sandy Koufax as second on the career list of no-hitters. Nolan Ryan holds that record with seven.
It was Verlander’s eighth career no-hit bid of 7-plus innings, which ties him with Randy Johnson for the second-most by any pitcher in the expansion era (since 1961), trailing only Nolan Ryan (23), according to ESPN Stats & Information research.
Verlander is a stellar pitcher in 2022, after he missed the entire 2020 season due to an elbow injury and only pitching once in 2020. Tuesday’s start pushed him to 4-1, with a 1.55 ERA from six starts.
Verlander struck out five times and walked two more on 89 pitches. Blake TaylorHouston’s ninth pitching strike.
Verlander was flawless through four innings, before allowing a leadoff walked to Jorge PolancoIn the fifth. Verlander convinced Urshela that she could tap into a double-play one pitch later, to retire Polanco.
The right-hander was able to walk Minnesota’s No. 9 hitter, Gilberto CelestinoCelestino was thrown out at second base in the sixth.
This report was compiled by the Associated Press.