TORONTO – Justin Verlander took the mound for the ninth inning Sunday afternoon, fully aware of the no-hitters he finished – as well as the ones that ones that might have been.
Zeroed in, he wouldn’t be denied this time.
Verlander pitched the third no-hitter of his MLB career, punctuating a dominant season by striking out 14 batters to lead the Houston Astros past the Toronto Blue Jays, 2-0.
“It means a lot,” Verlander said. “I’d be lying if I said I didn’t know that. I’ve come so close. Since I’ve had two, I think I’ve blown two in the ninth and another couple in the eighth.”
Verlander became just the sixth pitcher to throw at least three no-hitters in the majors, an elite club that includes the likes of Nolan Ryan, Sandy Koufax and Cy Young.
“I was definitely aware of the history aspect of it,” Verlander said. “Definitely a big hurdle to get over and a very special moment for me.”
Verlander (17-5) is the first pitcher to throw two no-hitters as a visitor in the same park – he also threw one at Rogers Centre in 2011 while with the Detroit Tigers. His first was in 2007 for the Tigers against the Milwaukee Brewers.
“I guess I have to like this mound a lot now,” Verlander joked.
He allowed only one runner, with Cavan Biggio drawing a one-out walk in the first inning. The Blue Jays, with a lineup full of young, aggressive batters, never came close to a hit as the franchise that began play in 1997 was held hitless for the sixth time.
The 36-year-old Verlander joined Ryan (seven no-hitters), Koufax (four) and Young, Bob Feller and 1880s-era Larry Corcoran (three each) in rarefied air.
Verlander lost a no-hit try in the eighth inning late in 2011, had bids broken in the ninth in 2012 and 2015 and had another attempt spoiled this past May in the seventh against the Chicago White Sox.
Verlander threw a season-high 120 pitches, mixing a fastball that reached the upper 90s with a sharp curve. The right-hander retired the last 26 hitters in a row, but he still needed help because the game was scoreless going into the last inning – according to baseball rules, Verlander had to pitch a complete game to get credit for a no-hitter.
That’s when rookie Abraham Toro, who was born in Canada, stepped up for the American League West Division leaders. The Astros newcomer hit a two-run homer off Ken Giles (2-3) with two outs in the ninth inning, clearing the way for Verlander to polish off his gem.
“The whole dugout was going crazy,” Toro said, “because everybody knew what was on the line.”
With the crowd of 24,104 getting to its feet to begin the ninth, Verlander retired Brandon Drury on an easy grounder and struck out Reese McGuire. Toro made a routine play on Bo Bichette’s grounder to third base for the last out.
“I honestly thought I was going to get him,” Bichette said, “but then he made a really good pitch.”
Verlander joked the 22-year-old Toro, playing just his eighth game in the majors, was in for quite a nice reward.
“I could not be happier for that kid,” said Verlander, who sought out Toro for an on-field hug after the game. “Just an incredible moment for him, from Canada, able to do that and then get the last out as well. Such a special moment, and I’m happy I’m able to celebrate with him.”
Only one Toronto player hit a ball harder than 100 miles per hour off the bat. Billy McKinney sent a grounder that first baseman Aledmys Diaz, playing an unfamiliar position in place of the injured Yuli Gurriel, stopped in the fifth. Diaz fed Verlander to end the inning.
“I think every no-hitter needs something to go your way,” Verlander said. “That was a pretty poor pitch that was hit pretty hard, fortunately on the ground, and AD over there is a great athlete and was able to knock it down and make a great play.”
Verlander is tied for the MLB lead in wins. The eight-time All-Star and former AL MVP and Cy Young Award winner tops the majors in strikeouts (257) and innings (193) and leads the AL with a 2.56 ERA.
It was the fourth no-hitter in the majors this year. The last one was also by the Astros, a combined effort from Aaron Sanchez, Will Harris, Joe Biagini and Chris Devenski against the Seattle Mariners on Aug. 3. The Oakland Athletic’ Mike Fiers against the Cincinnati Reds on May 7 and a tandem effort by Taylor Cole and Felix Pena of the Los Angeles Angels against the Mariners on July 12 accounted for this year’s others.
Verlander’s was the 13th no-hitter for Houston, including one by Ryan.