Young Houston Astros pitchers win Corpus Christi first

The Corpus Christi Hooks did something they’ve never done before Saturday night: throw a nine-inning no-hitter.

Jake Bloss and Cesar Gomez combined to no-out the San Antonio Missions, 3-0, giving the Houston Astros’ Double-A affiliate its first in a nine-inning format in 19 seasons.

Bloss (4-2) went 6.1 innings for the Hooks, as he struck out six and walked three. He threw 82 pitchers.

Bloss handed it to Gomez in the seventh with one out, and he retired the next eight batters, while striking out three. It was Gomez on the mound when Hooks recorded the final out to clinch the no-hitter.

Meanwhile, the Hooks had 10 hits on the Missions as top prospect Jacob Melton made his second appearance in the lineup since returning from injury.

Bloss, a right-hander, is the Astros’ No. 10 prospect according to MLB Pipeline. Houston selected him in the third round of last year’s MLB draft out of Georgetown. He made seven starts last season for the Astros’ Florida Complex League team and Class A Fayetteville, going 1-1 with a 2.89 ERA in seven games (six starts). He struck out 23 and walked 12 in 18.2 innings.

He started this season with the High-A Asheville Tourists and was promoted to Corpus Christi on May 3.

In 12 combined starts, he is 4-2 with a 1.74 ERA. He struck out 60 and walked 21 in 62 innings.

Gomez went to college at UT-Arlington and began pitching professionally in 2021 with Fayetteville. He spent most of the last two seasons with Corpus Christi, except for a few appearances with Triple-A Sugar Land.

Although he has always had a high ERA with the organization, he has been exceptional this season. He has a 1.29 ERA in 16 games with a 1-1 record. He struck out 29 and walked three in 28 innings.

The Hooks finish their series with the Missions on Sunday.