Framber Valdez welcomes Justin Verlander back to Astros with no-hitter: Best memes and tweets
On the day that the Houston Astros brought Justin Verlander back in a trade, another ace in Framber Valdez stepped up with a pristine no-hitter.
Before Tuesday night, the last Houston Astros pitcher to throw a no-hitter was Justin Verlander on Sept. 1, 2019. On the day that Houston traded to bring Verlander back to the Astros, Framber Valdez decided to welcome the reigning AL Cy Young winner back witha no-no of his own.
Taking the mound against the Cleveland Guardians, Valdez only needed 93 pitches to keep the Guards out of the box score and off of the basepaths save for a fifth-inning walk issued to Oscar Gonzalez. But he also only faced the minimum 27 batters on the night after Will Brennan grounded into a double play to end that inning.
With his dominant showing, Valdez also became the first Astros left-handed pitcher to throw a no-hitter.
Framber Valdez is the first lefty in @Astros history to throw a no-hitter. pic.twitter.com/8uspLTGXS0
— MLB (@MLB) August 2, 2023
It’s a good thing that Valdez delivered that performance too. The Astros netted just two runs on the night, needing a dominant pitching outing to get the win. Valdez clearly delivered that and more with the 16th no-hitter in Astros history.
Framber Valdez tosses first Astros no-hitter since 2019: Best memes and tweets
On a big day for the Astros pitching staff, fans in Houston and baseball fans at large had plenty to say reacting to Framber Valdez delivering a phenomenal no-hitter.
Framber Valdez threw a no-hitter for the Astros, needing only 93 pitches.
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) August 2, 2023
That is the fewest pitches thrown in a no-hitter or perfect game since David Cone in 1999.
Cone threw 88 pitches in a perfect game vs the Expos. pic.twitter.com/LqKtTPZoKV
FRAMBER VALDEZ WITH THE NO HITTER IN HOUSTON TEXAS. WHAT A NIGHT FOR THE STAFF ACE. THE FRAMCHISE. HIS VERY FIRST MLB NO HITTER!!! PLAY FRAMBERS SONG!! pic.twitter.com/6FzMqcjdhS
— Apollo Dez (@ApolloDez1) August 2, 2023
YALL. I BOUGHT A FRAMBER VALDEZ JERSEY AT THE TEAM STORE TONIGHT AND HE PROCEEDED TO THROW A NO-HITTER. OMG I’M SHAKING. pic.twitter.com/GzbKuFDKK1
— Astros Josh (@AstrosJosh) August 2, 2023
What a day for the Astros. They bring back Justin Verlander in a trade and then watch ace lefty Framber Valdez throw a no-hitter.
— Brian McTaggart (@brianmctaggart) August 2, 2023
FRAMBER VALDEZ. NO - HITTER.
— Apollo Dez (@ApolloDez1) August 2, 2023
PLAY HIS SONG!!
pic.twitter.com/PvesquT0a6
Framber Valdez throws a no-hitter - and it's a Maddux (complete game shutout under 100 pitches)
— keithlaw (@keithlaw) August 2, 2023
the plate discipline of a man with a career 3.9% walk rate was the only thing standing between framber valdez and the 25th perfect game in MLB history pic.twitter.com/Y7hFpLCs8j
— peter (@xwOBA) August 2, 2023
Framber Valdez throws his first no-hitter!!!!
— Michael Schwab (@michaelschwab13) August 2, 2023
Talk about a helluva day in Houston. Getting Verlander back is huge for the Astros as they try to return to the World Series. And ironically, that move was necessitated by Valdez needing a bit more help in the rotation.
Houston has been dealt a bad injury hand this season with Lance McCullers Jr. and Luis Garcia both undergoing season-ending surgery and Luis Garcia missing much of the year. Valdez has been the ace since Verlander’s offseason departure in free agency. That’s obviously not going to change after the acquisition.
And if there was any doubt about that, Valdez put it to bed on Tuesday — along with all nine Guardians hitters, three times apiece.
Next. Top 25 MLB pitching seasons of all time. dark