Ronel Blanco pitches 7 hitless innings, Jose Altuve’s home runs lead Astros past Tigers 4-1

HOUSTON (AP) — Ronel Blanco had the second no-hit outing of his brief major league career, but was removed after seven innings as the Houston Astros beat the Detroit Tigers 4-1 on Sunday.

White (7-2), who threw the only no-hitter in the majors this season, on April 1 against Toronto, was just as good this time in his 20th start and 37th career appearance. The 30-year-old right-hander threw 94 pitches with 65 strikes and tied a season high with eight strikeouts. He walked three.

Ryan Pressly replaced Blanco to start the eighth and gave up the Tigers’ first hit, a two-out single by Wenceel Pérez.

Jose Altuve hit a three-run homer for Houston.

The Tigers couldn’t do much against Blanco a day after he had a game-high 19 hits in a 13-5 win over the Astros.

Blanco didn’t allow a baserunner until he walked Gio Urshela with two outs in the fifth.

He then walked Akil Baddoo and Carson Kelly to load the bases, but retired Zach McKinstry on a flyout.

Blanco made a good defensive play for the second out of the sixth when he caught a comebacker hit by Matt Vierling. He then sat Riley Greene on a pop-up.

Urshela had two outs in the seventh following a throwing error by third baseman Alex Bregman. Blanco then struck out Baddoo on a fly ball that center fielder Jake Meyers caught on the warning track to end the right-hander’s day.

After Pérez’s hit, Pressly sat Vierling before Josh Hader took over for the ninth. Mark Canha singled with one out and scored on a double by pinch hitter Andy Ibánez.

Urshela grounded out and Hader retired pinch hitter Jake Rogers to end it.

Detroit starter Kenta Maeda (2-3) allowed five hits and four runs in five innings.

Altuve hit a leadoff single before advancing to second on a wild pitch with one out. The Astros took a 1-0 lead when he scored on a single by Yordan Alvarez.

Mauricio Dubón singled with one out in the second half and Chas McCormick tied the game with two outs. Altuve made it 4-0 with his shot to the center of the field.

TRAINERS ROOM

Astros: Manager Joe Espada said RHP Justin Verlander, who was scratched from Saturday’s start because of neck soreness, felt better Sunday and could start in the team’s next series against the Whites Chicago Sox. … RHP Luis Contreras was selected to the major league roster to replace RHP Nick Hernandez, who was optioned to Triple-A Sugar Land on Saturday night. To make room for Contreras on the 40-man roster, RHP Cristian Javier, who recently underwent Tommy John surgery, was moved to the 60-day injured list.

FOLLOWING

Tigers: RHP Reese Olson (1-8, 3.68 ERA) starts for Detroit against Braves LHP Max Fried (6-3, 3.20) in the first game of a three-game series at Atlanta on Monday night.

Astros: Houston is off Monday before opening a three-game series against the White Sox Tuesday night. The Astros have not announced their starters for the series.

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