HOUSTON — Framber Valdez threw the 16th no-hitter in Houston Astros history in a 2-0 victory over the Cleveland Guardians on Tuesday night.

Valdez allowed just one baserunner on a walk in the fifth inning, but still faced the minimum thanks to a double play in that inning.

Gabriel Arias grounded out to start the ninth before Myles Straw lined out to center field. Cam Gallagher then lined out to Jeremy Pena, a former UMaine player, to end it and set off the celebration.

Valdez (9-7) raised his arms above his head and then clapped as a huge smile crossed his face.

The 29-year-old from the Dominican Republic had pitched five complete games, including two complete game shutouts before Tuesday’s gem.

The no-hitter was the third in the majors this season. New York Yankees right-hander Domingo Germán pitched a perfect game at Oakland on June 28, and Matt Manning, Alex Lange and Jason Foley of the Detroit Tigers threw a combined no-no against Toronto on July 8.

It’s Houston’s first no-hitter in the regular season since Cristian Javier, Hector Neris and Ryan Pressly combined to no-hit the Yankees on June 25, 2022, and the first by a single pitcher since Justin Verlander against Toronto on Sept. 1, 2019.

ORIOLES 13, BLUE JAYS 3: Anthony Santander hit his second career grand slam, Gunnar Henderson homered for the second straight game and AL-leading Baltimore remained unbeaten in Toronto this season.

Santander went 3 for 4 with a walk and four RBI. He cleared the bases with his 19th home run, a deep drive off Nate Pearson in the eighth.

Henderson went 3 for 5 with two RBI, and Ryan Mountcastle reached base four times and drove in two runs as the Orioles won for the fourth time in five games and improved their league-best record to 66-41.

RAYS 5, YANKEES 2: Zach Eflin pitched six shutout innings of three-hit ball to become the American League’s first 12-game winner, Randy Arozarena hit a two-run homer off Carlos Rodón and Tampa Bay won at New York.

Yandy Díaz also connected for the Rays, who won their third straight game and have gone deep six times in the last two nights at Yankee Stadium.

Manuel Margot hit an RBI double and Brandon Lowe added a run-scoring single for the Rays.

RANGERS 2, WHITE SOX 0: Andrew Heaney struck out 11 without a walk while throwing two-hit ball over six innings, Mitch Garver and Adolis Garcia hit solo homers and AL West-leading Texas beat visiting Chicago.

Josh Sborz and Aroldis Chapman each pitched an inning before Will Smith’s perfect ninth for his 18th save in 20 chances to wrap up the Rangers’ eighth shutout this season.

NATIONAL LEAGUE

PHILLIES 3, MARLINS 1: Nick Castellanos slugged a tie-breaking two-run homer in the ninth inning to rally Philadelphia to a win at Miami.

Castellanos, who has been mired in an 8-for-68 skid in the second half of the season, drilled a slider from Marlins closer David Robertson over the wall in left-center to punctuate the three-run outburst in the inning.

Robertson (4-3) relieved starter Sandy Alcantara and allowed a leadoff walk to Kyle Schwarber. After a strikeout, Bryce Harper hit an opposite field double that scored pinch-runner Jake Cave from first.

Alcantara followed up his second complete game in his last start by limiting the Phillies to four hits over eight scoreless innings. He allowed a walk and had five strikeouts.

BREWERS 6, NATIONALS 4: Brice Turang and Joey Wiemer hit consecutive two-run singles as part of a four-run fourth inning, and visiting Milwaukee ended a four-game losing streak.

INTERLEAGUE

PIRATES 4, TIGERS 1: Rookie Liover Peguero hit a two-run home run and Johan Oviedo pitched seven strong innings to lead Pittsburgh over visiting Detroit.

Peguero’s two-run home run to left-field bleachers capped a three-run second inning. The 3-0 lead was enough for Oviedo, who allowed one run while scattering six hits, striking out five and walking two.

BRAVES 5, ANGELS 1: Michael Harris II ended a homer drought with two blasts, including a go-ahead shot in the fifth, Spencer Strider added to his majors-leading total with nine strikeouts and Atlanta won at home.

Strider (12-3) allowed one run in 6 2/3 innings in his first victory since July 8. He has nine or more strikeouts in 17 of 22 starts, giving him 208 for the season.

NOTES

BLUE JAYS: Shortstop Bo Bichette, a two-time All-Star, left a game against the Baltimore Orioles Monday night when he injured his right knee running the bases.

General Manager Ross Atkins said Bichette has inflammation in his patellar tendon. An MRI Monday night showed no structural damage.

“Anytime one of your best players has an injury it’s a disappointment, but we’re encouraged by the news after the fact,” Atkins said. “You see someone in pain, there’s obviously concern on many levels. The more you learn, the more at peace we’ve become. But it is a big hit to us. Very optimistic that (Bichette) will be helping our team again.”

Bichette currently is day to day, but the Blue Jays have not ruled out a stint on the injured list, Manager John Schneider said. Bichette leads the AL with a .321 average and 144 hits. His 42 multi-hit games also are an AL high.

Santiago Espinal, who replaced Bichette on Monday, started at shortstop Tuesday.

ANGELS: The Los Angeles Angels placed right-hander Griffin Canning on the 15-day injured list with right calf tightness.

The Angels recalled right-hander Victor Mederos from Double-A Rocket City. They also recalled outfielder Jordyn Adams from Triple-A Salt Lake. Infielder Michael Stefanic was optioned to Salt Lake after Monday night’s game.

DODGERS: Mookie Betts is back in the Los Angeles Dodgers’ lineup after missing two games with a sore right ankle.

Betts sat out weekend games against the Cincinnati Reds after getting hurt in the batter’s box last Friday trying to avoid a pitch.

Betts is batting .356 with eight homers, 21 RBI, 24 runs scored and 24 walks in his last 24 games.

CUBS: Veteran infielder Trey Mancini was designated for assignment to make room for Jeimer Candelario on the roster.

The 31-year-old Mancini finalized a $14 million, two-year contract with Chicago in January. He batted .234 with four homers and 28 RBI in 79 games with the Cubs.

MARINERS: The Seattle Mariners designated for assignment second baseman Kolten Wong after he struggled badly at the plate for most of the season.

Wong was acquired in a trade with Milwaukee last offseason in the hope he could fill an obvious need at second base. But his bat never came around and Wong was eventually benched in favor of Jose Caballero getting the bulk of the playing time.

Wong hit .165 with two homers and 19 RBI in 67 games for Seattle. He hit a meager .132 in May and was benched midway through the month following a series in Boston.

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