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Monday 2 SepteMber 2019
Verlander pitches 3rd career no-hitter, Astros beat Jays 2-0

By IAN HARRISON land’s Addie Joss did it to
Associated Press the White Sox in 1908 and
TORONTO (AP) — Justin Ver- 1910, while San Francisco’s
lander took the mound for Tim Lincecum held San
the ninth inning, fully aware Diego hitless in 2013 and
of the no-hitters he finished 2014.
— and his near misses, too. This was the fourth no-hitter
Zeroed in, he wouldn’t be in the majors this year. The
denied this time. last one was by the Astros,
Verlander pitched his third a combined effort from
career no-hitter, punctuat- Aaron Sanchez, Will Harris,
ing a dominant season by Joe Biagini and Chris De-
striking out 14 to lead the venski against Seattle on
Houston Astros past the To- Aug. 3. Sanchez and Biag-
ronto Blue Jays 2-0 on Sun- ini did it in their first game
day. since being acquired in a
Verlander became just the trade with Toronto.
sixth pitcher to throw at Oakland’s Mike Fiers and
least three no-hitters in the a tandem effort by Taylor
majors, an elite club that Cole and Felix Pena of the
includes the likes of Nolan Angels accounted for this
Ryan, Sandy Koufax and year’s other gems.
Cy Young. Verlander is tied for the big
“It means a lot,” Verlander league lead in wins. The
said. “I’d be lying if I said eight-time All-Star and for-
I didn’t know that. I’ve mer AL MVP and Cy Young
come so close. Since I’ve Award winner tops the ma-
had two, I think I’ve blown jors in strikeouts (257) and
two in the ninth and anoth- innings (193) and leads the
er couple in the eighth.” AL with a 2.56 ERA.
“I was definitely aware of With the crowd of 24,104
the history aspect of it. Defi- getting to its feet to begin
nitely a big hurdle to get the ninth, Verlander retired
over and a very special Brandon Drury on an easy
moment for me,” he said. grounder and struck out
Verlander (17-5) is the first Reese McGuire.
pitcher to throw two no-hit- After that second out,
ters as a visitor in the same catcher Robinson Chirinos
park — he also threw one went to the mound for a
at Rogers Centre in 2011 Houston Astros starting pitcher Justin Verlander throws in the ninth inning against the Toronto Blue quick visit with Verlander.
with Detroit. His other no- Jays in a baseball game in Toronto, Sunday, Sept. 1, 2019. The count went full on Bi-
no was in 2007 for the Tigers Associated Press chette, who fouled off
against Milwaukee. White Sox. West leaders. The Astros Said Bichette: “I honestly a pitch before hitting a
“I guess I have to like this Verlander’s wife, model newcomer hit a two-out, thought I was going to get bouncer to Toro.
mound a lot now,” Ver- Kate Upton, is currently at- two-run homer in the ninth him, but then he made a Verlander took a couple
lander joked. tending the Venice Film inning off Ken Giles (2-3) really good pitch.” hops toward first as he
Verlander allowed only Festival, where she tweet- that cleared the way for “He is who is for a reason,” watched Toro field the ball,
one runner, with Cavan ed out a message of con- Verlander to complete the Bichette said. saw the throw on target
Biggio drawing a one-out gratulations. no-hitter. Only one Toronto player hit and then began the cele-
walk in the first inning. The “She was the first one I “The whole dugout was go- a ball harder than 100 miles bration in the middle of the
Blue Jays, with a lineup full called,” Verlander said. ing crazy because every- per hour off the bat. diamond.
of young, aggressive bat- “She was actually up very body knew what was one Billy McKinney sent a Not bad for an ace who
ters, never came close to late watching the whole the line,” Toro said. grounder that first base- was ejected in his previous
a hit. thing, so that’s awesome.” Toro made a routine play man Aledmys Diaz, play- start. Verlander was tossed
The 36-year-old Verlander Verlander threw a season- on Bo Bichette’s grounder ing an unfamiliar position last Tuesday at home short-
joined Ryan (seven), Kou- high 120 pitches, mixing a to third base for the last in place of the injured Yuli ly after a close pitch didn’t
fax (four) and Young, Bob fastball that reached the out. Verlander joked the Gurriel, stopped in the fifth. go his way against Tampa
Feller and 1880s-era Larry upper 90s mph with a sharp 22-year-old Toro, playing Diaz fed Verlander to end Bay. It was Verlander’s
Corcoran (three each) in curve. just his eighth game in the the inning. ninth career shutout and
rarefied air on the no-hitter The right-hander retired majors, was in for quite a “I think every no-hitter first this season. This was the
list. the last 26 hitters in a row. nice reward. needs something to go 13th no-hitter for the Astros,
“Some of the guys I’ve idol- But he still needed help “I could not be happier for your way,” Verlander said. including one by Ryan.
ized,” Verlander said. because the game was that kid,” said Verlander, “That was a pretty poor The Blue Jays were no-hit
And it came after a series scoreless going into the who sought out Toro for pitch that was hit pretty for the sixth time. Before
of close calls. last inning — according to an on-field hug after the hard, fortunately on the Sunday, the last to do it
Verlander lost a no-hit try baseball rules, Verlander game. “Just an incredible ground, and AD over there was Seattle’s James Pax-
in the eighth inning late in had to pitch a complete moment for him, from Can- is a great athlete and was ton, who became the first
2011, had bids broken in game to get credit for a ada, able to do that and able to knock it down and Canadian pitcher to throw
the ninth in 2012 and 2015 no-hitter. then get the last out as well. make a great play.” a big league no-hitter north
and had another attempt That’s when Canadian- Such a special moment Just two other pitchers of the border when he
spoiled last May in the sev- born rookie Abraham Toro and I’m happy I’m able to have no-hit the same team beat the Blue Jays on May
enth by Jose Abreu of the stepped up for the AL celebrate with him.” more than once. Cleve- 8, 2018.q