RONEL Blanco tossed seven no-hit innings and Jose Altuve clubbed a three-run home run as the Houston Astros claimed the rubber match of their three-game series against the visiting Detroit Tigers with a 4-1 victory on Sunday (Monday in Manila).
Blanco (7-2) continued his breakout campaign and flirted with a second no-hitter this season. He allowed two walks and recorded seven strikeouts when he no-hit the Toronto Blue Jays on April 1 and was equally dominant against the Tigers.
Blanco retired the first 14 batters he faced, eight by strikeout, before issuing a two-out walk to Gio Urshela in the fifth. Blanco then walked Akil Baddoo and Carson Kelly to load the bases before Zach McKinstry flied out to shallow center to end the threat.
Tigers rookie right fielder Wenceel Perez ended the combined no-hit bid when he dumped a two-out single to center off Astros reliever Ryan Pressly in the eighth.
Houston closer Josh Hader surrendered an RBI double to pinch hitter Andy Ibanez in the ninth but preserved the win. Detroit starter Kenta Maeda (2-3) allowed four runs on five hits and two walks over five innings.
In other games, it was the Red Sox 9, Yankees 3; Dodgers 3, Royals 0; Rays 8, Braves 6; Cardinals 2, Cubs 1; Orioles 8, Phillies 3; Nationals 3, Marlins 1; Blue Jays 7, Guardians 6; Mets 11, Padres 6; Brewers 5, Reds 4; Twins 6, Athletics 2 (Game 1); Pirates 8, Rockies 2; Giants 13, Angels 6; Diamondbacks 12, White Sox 5; Mariners 5, Rangers 0; and Twins 8, Athletics 7 (Game 2).
Red Sox 9, Yankees 3
Boston set a franchise record by stealing nine bases en route to a victory over visiting New York. David Hamilton had four of Boston’s nine steals. He also had two hits and scored three times.
Boston’s Ceddanne Rafaela collected three hits and drove in two runs. Rafaela is 11-for-19 in his past five games. Connor Wong added a team-high three RBIs for the Red Sox.
The Yankees received solo home runs from Aaron Judge and Jose Trevino. It was Judge’s 26th homer of the year and Trevino’s eighth.
