Three Houston Astros pitchers throw combined no-hitter in shutout victory over Texas Rangers

A month into the MLB season, batters are making frequent use of the new ABS challenge system.

The Houston Astros capped their fourth straight win with a no-hit shutout on Monday. Tatsuya Imai started and pitched six innings before relievers Steven Okert and Alimber Santa took over to keep the Texas Rangers hitless.

The 9-0 victory marked MLB’s first no-hitter since Shota Imanaga and two Chicago Cubs relievers combined for a 12-0 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates in September 2024.

The last complete-game no-hitter came in August 2024, when Blake Snell held the Cincinnati Reds hitless.

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Houston Astros starting pitcher Tatsuya Imai throws to the Texas Rangers during the first inning of a baseball game Monday, May 25, 2026, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

Imai went six innings in the 17th regular-season no-hitter in Astros history and that fourth that was a combined effort. Houston also threw a no-hitter in the 2022 World Series when four pitchers combined against Philadelphia.

Okert worked the seventh after Imai got 16 outs over the last 16 batters he faced. He walked three of his first four batters but benefited from a double play in the first inning before finding a rhythm. 

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Santa made his big-league debut in the eighth and retired all six batters he faced. His 24th pitch was a called third strike against Brandon Nimmo that ended it after an ABS challenge by the batter was confirmed as a strike.

Houston Astros pitcher Alimber Santa is doused with water after pitching in his major league debut and closing a combined no-hitter against the Texas Rangers in Arlington, Texas, on May 25, 2026. (Julio