Sixteen consecutive outs to close his six innings
On a Monday night in late May, three Houston Astros pitchers wove together one of baseball's rarest tapestries — a combined no-hitter — silencing the Texas Rangers 9-0 and ending a nearly nine-month drought without such an achievement in the major leagues. Tatsuya Imai, a Japanese import fulfilling the promise of a $54 million investment, anchored the effort before handing the baton to relievers Steven Okert and Alimber Santa, the latter making his major league debut. In a sport that measures itself against its own long memory, Houston added a 17th chapter to its no-hit history, reminding us that collective excellence can be as luminous as any individual feat.
- Baseball had gone nearly nine months without a no-hitter, making Monday night's gem a long-awaited rarity in a sport that prizes such purity.
- Okert nearly unraveled the moment in the seventh, walking three of his first four batters and threatening to hand Texas its first baserunner — a double play rescued the bid.
- Alimber Santa, pitching in his first major league game, retired all six batters he faced and delivered the final strike that sealed history, surviving a batter's challenge on the last call.
- Imai's six dominant innings — retiring 16 straight to close his outing — validated Houston's $54 million faith in the three-time Japanese All-Star in just his first MLB season.
- The 9-0 final extended Houston's winning streak to four games, signaling that this Astros squad carries both offensive firepower and a pitching staff deep enough to make history on any given night.
On Monday night, the Houston Astros held the Texas Rangers hitless across nine innings, winning 9-0 in a combined no-hitter that stood as the first in the major leagues since September 2024. Three pitchers shared the burden and the glory, each contributing a distinct chapter to the achievement.
Tatsuya Imai, 28, carried the game through six innings in his debut MLB season. The former Seibu Lions ace — a three-time All-Star in Japan's Pacific League who posted a 1.92 ERA before signing a three-year, $54 million deal with Houston in January — retired 16 consecutive batters to close his outing, setting the stage for what would follow.
Steven Okert inherited a fragile moment in the seventh, walking three of his first four batters before a double play steadied the inning. Then came the evening's most unexpected figure: Alimber Santa, making his major league debut in the eighth, retired all six batters he faced with quiet authority. The no-hitter ended on a called strike three against Brandon Nimmo, who challenged the call and lost.
The achievement was Houston's 17th regular-season no-hitter and the fourth accomplished with multiple pitchers — a franchise that also threw a combined no-hitter in the 2022 World Series. For the Rangers, it was the sixth time in their history they had been held hitless. For baseball, it was a reminder that in an era of bullpen-by-committee, collective brilliance can still produce something singular and rare.
The Houston Astros made history on Monday night, combining three pitchers to shut out the Texas Rangers without allowing a single hit. The final score was 9-0, a dominant performance that capped the team's fourth consecutive victory and marked a rare achievement in modern baseball.
Tatsuya Imai, the 28-year-old Japanese pitcher in his first major league season, started the game and worked through six innings. He retired 16 consecutive batters to close out his stint on the mound. Imai signed with Houston in January on a three-year deal worth $54 million after eight seasons in Japan's Pacific League, where he was a three-time All-Star and posted a 1.92 ERA last season with the Seibu Lions.
Steven Okert took over in the seventh inning and navigated a shaky start—he walked three of his first four batters—but benefited from a double play early in the inning and eventually found his rhythm. The real surprise came in the eighth, when Alimber Santa made his major league debut and retired all six batters he faced. His final pitch, the 24th of his appearance, was a called strike three against Brandon Nimmo that ended the game after the batter challenged the call and lost.
This was the 17th no-hitter in Astros regular-season history and the fourth time Houston has accomplished the feat with multiple pitchers. The team also threw a combined no-hitter in the 2022 World Series against Philadelphia. For the Rangers, this marked the sixth time they have been held hitless, the first occurrence since Corey Kluber threw a complete-game no-hitter against them while pitching for the New York Yankees on May 19, 2021.
The no-hitter was a significant milestone for baseball itself. It was the first of its kind in the majors since September 2024, when the Chicago Cubs' pitching staff combined to blank the Pittsburgh Pirates 12-0. The last individual pitcher to throw a complete-game no-hitter was Blake Snell in August 2024 against Cincinnati. Combined no-hitters have become more common in recent years as teams rely heavily on bullpen depth, and this performance by Houston showcased the depth of their pitching staff across the rotation and relief corps.
Citas Notables
Imai was a three-time All-Star during eight seasons in Japan, posting a 1.92 ERA last season for the Seibu Lions— Career background
La Conversación del Hearth Otra perspectiva de la historia
What made this particular no-hitter stand out in a season where they're becoming more frequent?
It wasn't just the feat itself—it was who did it. You had a rookie from Japan making his first impression, a reliever settling in after a rough start, and a kid making his debut in the biggest moment. That's three different stories converging.
Imai seems like the centerpiece here. How much of this was him versus the relievers?
He set the tone completely. Sixteen straight outs to close his six innings—that's not luck. That's a pitcher in control. The relievers just had to protect what he built.
Santa's debut sounds almost too perfect. Did he know he was coming in for a no-hitter?
Almost certainly. You don't hide that from a pitcher. The pressure of that moment, knowing you're one appearance away from history—that's either paralyzing or clarifying. For him it was clarifying.
The Rangers have been no-hit six times now. Is that just bad luck or something structural?
It's a combination. They're a young team rebuilding. But being no-hit that many times also means you're facing good pitching—and sometimes good pitching just wins the day.
What does this mean for Imai's trajectory in the majors?
He just announced himself. Fifty-four million dollars is a significant bet, and he's validating it immediately. This performance gets remembered.