ARLINGTON – TEXAS.- The Japanese Tatsuya Imai got into trouble in the first inning with two consecutive walks, but he righted the course and pitched six innings without allowing a hit; Steven Okert maintained dominance in the seventh, while Dominican debutant Alimber Santa took care of the last six outs of the game so that the Houston Astros managed to throw their 18th no-hitter and no-run game in franchise history, beating the Texas Rangers 9-0.
The Astros team, which has the highest collective ERA in all of the Major Leagues at 5.10, is the first team to deliver a no-hit no-run during the 2026 season. In addition, it was the first in the Majors since the one achieved by the Chicago Cubs with Shota Imanaga, Nate Pearson and Porter Hodge against the Pirates on September 4, 2024.
Imai, who set the pace for the team’s fifth no-hitter, faced 20 batters, walking four — three of them in the first inning — and striking out only two.
“I made adjustments to the timing, rhythm and balance,” Imai said through his interpreter. “I’m going to try to have a better first inning.”
The Japanese, who did not walk in his previous outing in Minnesota, knows that it has been difficult for him to adapt to the Major Leagues. However, today he managed to survive his initial lack of control. And although he is coming off his two best outings, Imai remains on the sidelines because he knows that he still has to improve to fill that star label with which he left Japan.
“It’s a difficult situation, it’s the first time I’ve thrown a no-hitter in the Major Leagues. I’m used to pitching in different situations from the first inning. I think I can adapt no matter what stadium I’m pitching in,” the right-hander said when asked if his recent performances give him greater confidence.
Imai, who said he threw a no-hitter during his high school years in Japan, as well as Okert and Santa, were backed by an offense led by Yordan Álvarez, who hit his 16th home run of the season, and Christian Walker, who hit a three-run homer in the seventh inning.
The Japanese starter was relieved for the seventh inning after making 97 pitches, 57 of them on strikes by Okert.
“I feel like the combined no-hitters are pretty difficult. Three pitchers have their best level on the same day, so it was fun,” said the left-hander, who claims to have never participated in a game like that before. “I don’t think so, I feel like I would remember it. So I don’t think it’s happened before.”
Alimber Santa, the debutant of the night, only received praise after hanging the 27th out. The Dominican said that upon entering the clubhouse, Cuban Yordan Álvarez told him: “Santa, you don’t know what you just did.”
And what he did was great, according to the Elias Sports Bureau, the Dominican is the first pitcher since 1900 to be involved in a no-hitter during his Major League debut.
