Houston Astros ace Justin Verlander lost a no-hitter with one out in the eighth inning Tuesday night when the Minnesota Twins’ Gio Urshela hit a clean single to right field.
Verlander was five outs from completing his fourth no-hitter when Urshela threw his 84th pitch into the outfield. The Astros prevailed in the game with a score of 5-0.
The veteran pitched the first eight innings, allowing just one hit, striking out five and walking two, putting his record at 4-1.
The 39-year-old’s previous no-hitter came in 2019 against Toronto, and he also pitched two for the Detroit Tigers. Nolan Ryan holds the major league record with seven no-hitters. Sandy Koufax is in second place with four.
Verlander was perfect for four innings before allowing a walk to lead off Jorge Polanco in the fifth. Verlander had Urshela convert into a double play a pitch later.
The right-hander also walked ninth batter Gilberto Celestino with two out in the sixth inning.
Verlander, a two-time Cy Young Award winner, entered Tuesday with a 3-1 record and a 1.93 ERA in five starts this year after missing the entire 2021 season and nearly all of 2020 due to Tommy John surgery.
His best start of the year before Tuesday came on April 16, when he pitched eight scoreless innings and allowed just three hits against Seattle.
Verlander was vying for the majors’ second no-hitter this season afterfive New York Mets pitchersthey combined for one against the Philadelphia Phillies on April 29. There was a record nine no-hitters in the majors last season.
