Verlander Tosses 3rd No-Hitter of Career

Astros pitcher Justin Verlander
Justin Verlander with the Astros in September 2019. Photo by Canadian Press/Shutterstock (10376893j)

After getting the last out in the 9th inning, Justin Verlander pumped his arms in elation and let the celebrations begin. His 14 strikeout no-hitter was the 3rd of his career, his first in 2007 and his second in 2011.

Along with joining the elite list of Nolan Ryan, Sandy Koufax, Bob Feller, Larry Corcoran, and Cy Young as the only pitchers to throw 3 or more in their career, he also became the first pitcher to throw 2 no-hitters in the same stadium as a visitor- Rogers Centre in Toronto.

Verlander dominated Blue Jays hitters the entire game, but with no runs scored until the 9th inning, he was at risk of not getting the win in one of the best pitched games of his career. Abraham Toro took care of that with a 2 run homer in the top of the 9th and 2 outs to put the Astros up 2-0 and give Verlander the confidence to go out and finish the game. Fittingly enough, Toro also got the last out on a hard-hit ground ball to 3rd base which he fielded cleanly and tossed to first to begin the celebration.

Verlander’s no-no ranks among one of the best ever, and although Nolan Ryan’s record 7 no-hitters will probably never be broken, Verlander’s continued dominance of hitters is impressive in an age where complete games and 200+ innings are becoming rarer.