MLB's Latino of the Night: Hits Are a No-Show When Houston Astros' Ronel Blanco Takes the Mound

SEATTLE - The Latin Times' first "Latino of the Night" entry focuses on Houston Astros pitcher Ronel Blanco, who continued his terrific form on Sunday, April 7, allowing no hits through the first six innings against the reigning champions Texas Rangers.

• After throwing a no-hitter on April 1st against the Blue Jays, the Dominican didn't allow a single hit until the sixth inning against the Rangers. It wasn't until he faced the 51st batter of the season that Blanco gave up the first hit of 2024.

• Blanco's streak of 44 outs before allowing a hit are the most by a pitcher to begin a season in at least the expansion era (since 1961). The Dominican has started the season with two wins in two games, and now holds the second-longest consecutive outs streak in Astros history, just behind Mike Scott's 51 outs in 1986.

• Blanco was just three innings away from throwing back-to-back no hitters. A feat almost impossible to accomplish. Johnny Vander Meer, remains as the only pitcher in Major League Baseball history to have consecutive games allowing no hits, doing so more than 70 years ago (1938).

• The Dominican is the only pitcher in the Majors this season to have at least 10 IP and allow one or less run. Shota Imanaga of the Chicago Cubs is the only pitcher in 2024 to have a lower WHIP (walks and hits per innings pitched) than Blanco's 0.47.