In the game between the Houston Astros and the Detroit Tigers, Astros starting pitcher Framber Valdez had an impressive performance by taking a no-hitter into the late innings and holding a 1-0 lead. Valdez pitched seven innings without allowing a hit and was replaced by reliever Bryan Abreu in the eighth inning. However, Abreu allowed a single, breaking the no-hitter.
Despite the Tigers committing four errors throughout the game, they managed to rally in the ninth inning. Miguel Cabrera began the rally with a single, followed by singles from Zach McKinstry and Javier Báez, resulting in a game-tying RBI single. Rookie Parker Meadows, playing in his fourth career game, had a game-changing moment. He hit a three-run, walk-off home run, securing the win for the Astros. This was Meadows’ first career home run.
While Valdez’s no-hitter was a significant story, he was not very efficient and had control issues, walking five batters and throwing 114 pitches. Astros manager Dusty Baker made the decision to remove Valdez in the interest of the team’s overall performance. The Astros were in a tight race in the AL West standings, tied with the Mariners and one game behind the first-place Rangers.
Unfortunately, the Astros bullpen failed to preserve the victory. Valdez had previously thrown a no-hitter earlier in the season with only 93 pitches. If the relievers had completed the game without allowing a hit, the Astros would have had four of the last seven no-hitters in Major League Baseball. Valdez was aiming to join a prestigious group of pitchers who have thrown two no-hitters in the same season, including Max Scherzer, Roy Halladay, Nolan Ryan, Virgil Trucks, Allie Reynolds, and Johnny Vander Meer.
Despite the disappointing bullpen performance, the standout moment of the game was Parker Meadows’ walk-off home run, making him the eighth player in Tigers history to have their first career home run be a walk-off hit.
