ARLINGTON, Texas — He has a name you might not have heard before the season started, but Ronel Blanco is making his mark on the Houston Astros' pitching staff.
After throwing a no-hitter against the Toronto Blue Jays last week, Blanco took the mound in Sunday night's game in Arlington against the Rangers and got through the first five innings without allowing a hit.
The 44 outs he collected before allowing his first hit set an MLB mark for pitchers beginning a season since at least 1961.
Adolis García singled in the sixth to end the streak.
Blanco has been a bright spot in an otherwise dull start to the season for the Astros. Houston carried a 2-7 record into Sunday's matchup with the Rangers, landing them at the bottom of the American League West division standings.
The 44 outs without allowing a hit is the second-longest streak at any point in the season in Astros history. In 1986, Mike Scott fired off 51 consecutive outs without allowing a hit.
How did Blanco get into the rotation?
March 26, 2024, is a day Blanco will always treasure.
The pitcher and his wife Yanissa welcomed a baby girl in the morning. Then he went to the ballpark and struck out 10 in a 7-3 win over the Astros Triple-A affiliate Sugar Land Space Cowboys.
"What a day for Blanco. That was one gutsy performance," Astros manager Joe Espada told MLB writer Jeremy Rakes. "He's been in the hospital all morning, and then he comes here and competed for a spot, which he won. He's going to be in our rotation to start the season. I'm proud of his performance, and he had one heck of a spring."
In 2023, Blanco went 2-1 with a 4.50 ERA in 17 appearances, including seven starts.