Vázquez Joins Elite Catcher Club

Christian Vázquez just joined an elite MLB club—catching his second combined no-hitter, a feat shared only with Martín Maldonado, both accomplished with the Astros. This one shut down the Texas Rangers thanks to a trio of pitchers: Tatsuya Imai (six innings), Steven Okert (bridging the gap), and rookie Alimber Santa, who dazzled in his MLB debut with two perfect innings—becoming the first modern-era pitcher to close a no-hitter in his first appearance. Imai battled early walks but settled in, while Santa’s nasty slider even fooled Astros’ own sluggers. Vázquez called it even more special because it’s a team effort, and Imai’s outing was a major rebound after a shaky start. The Astros now lead MLB with five combined no-hitters, proving their pitching depth and ability to rise to the occasion—even on debut. Support the show:Get a discount at https://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/6618313cc08a4a21