Astros’ Verlander pitches his third career no-hitter

TORONTO >> Justin Verlander pitched his third career no-hitter, punctuating a dominant season by striking out 14 to lead the Astros past the Blue Jays, 2-0, on Sept. 1.

Verlander is just the sixth pitcher in major league history to throw at least three no-hitters.

The right-hander became the first pitcher to throw two no-hitters as a visitor in the same park — he also threw one at Rogers Centre in 2011 with Detroit. His other no-no was in 2007 for the Tigers against Milwaukee.

Verlander allowed only one runner, with Cavan Biggio drawing a one-out walk in the first inning. The Blue Jays, with a lineup full of young, aggressive batters, never came close to a hit.

“I can’t put it into words,” Verlander said, moments after the final out.

The 36-year-old Verlander joined Nolan Ryan (seven), Sandy Koufax (four) and Bob Feller, Cy Young and 1880s-era Larry Corcoran (three) in rarefied air on the no-hitter list.

“Some of the guys I’ve idolized,” Verlander said.

And it came after a series of near-misses over the years.

Verlander lost a no-hit try in the eighth inning late in 2011, had bids broken in the ninth in 2012 and 2015 and had another attempt spoiled last May in the seventh by Jose Abreu of the White Sox.

“I’ve come so close to the third one so many times,” Verlander said.

On this afternoon, he brought it home. Verlander threw a season-high 120 pitches, mixing a fastball that reached the upper 90s mph with a sharp curve.

Verlander retired the last 26 hitters in a row. But he still needed help because the game was scoreless going into the last inning — according to baseball rules, Verlander had to pitch a complete game to get credit for a no-hitter.

That’s when Canadianborn rookie Abraham Toro stepped up for the AL West leaders. The Astros newcomer hit a two-out, tworun homer in the ninth inning off Ken Giles (2-3) that cleared the way for Verlander to complete the nohitter.

Toro made a routine play on Bo Bichette’s grounder to third base for the last out.

Verlander joked the 22-year-old Toro, playing just his eighth game in the majors, was in for quite a nice reward.

This was the fourth nohitter in the majors this year.

FRED THORNHILL — THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Astros starter Justin Verlander celebrates after pitching a no-hitter against the Blue Jays on Sept. 1 in Toronto.