Houston Astros starter Framber Valdez fell one out shy of recording his second career no-hitter on Tuesday.
Corey Seager spoiled the party. With one man on and two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning, Seager launched a Valdez slider into the right-field seats. The blast cut Houston’s 4-0 lead over the Texas Rangers in half.
Valdez thus lost his chance to enter the record books. Closer Josh Hader took over on the mound. He issued a leadoff walk and then got the final out on Josh Jung’s deep fly ball that nearly tied the game.
Valdez left the eighth inning after throwing 93 pitches and Astros manager Joe Espada allowed him to reach the milestone. Hader warmed up between innings, but Valdez took the mound in an effort to finish the game. He walked leadoff hitter Robbie Grossman but induced a double play on his first pitch to Ezequiel Duran.
He then walked leadoff hitter Josh Smith, setting up Seager to ruin the no-hitter in the next at-bat.
While there was no no-hitter, the win came at an opportune time for the Astros, who are locked in a race with the Seattle Mariners for the AL West crown. The victory moved the Astros (58-55) one game behind the Mariners atop the division standings. It also moved the Rangers (54-60) six games behind the Astros in their long-shot hopes of joining the race.
Valdez, a two-time All-Star, is in the midst of another big season in Houston. He entered Tuesday’s game with a 3.56 ERA and 1.246 WHIP with 108 strikeouts and 38 walks in 116 1/3 innings pitched.