Astros combine for 9-0 no-hitter over Rangers

The Houston Astros threw a combined no-hitter against the Texas Rangers on Monday night, defeating their division rivals 9-0. Right-hander Tatsuya Imai started the historic effort, pitching six hitless innings before relievers Steven Okert and Alimber Santa completed the feat.

Imai, a 28-year-old rookie from Japan, overcame early command issues to dominate the Rangers lineup. He walked three of the first four batters he faced but escaped the first inning with a double play. From that point, he retired 16 consecutive batters. His fourth walk came to Brandon Nimmo leading off the fourth inning, but another double play erased the baserunner. Imai threw 57 of his 97 pitches for strikes and recorded two strikeouts.

Steven Okert took over in the seventh inning, issuing a walk before retiring the next three batters. Alimber Santa, a 23-year-old making his major league debut, then entered the game in the eighth and pitched two perfect innings. He sealed the no-hitter by striking out Brandon Nimmo on a called third strike, a call that was confirmed after a challenge by the batter using the automated ball-strike system.

This marks the 17th regular-season no-hitter in Astros franchise...