Hunter Brown continues the no-scorer myth with 24 innings blocked, setting a season's best record in the major leagues

Hunter Brown, the Astros' right-hand shooter, threw in a dominant performance at Daikin Park on Monday night, hitting only two first-run hits in seven innings and 9K hitting two first-run hits, extending his streak to 24 innings and leading his team to a 7-0 sweep against the Blue Jays. This is the fourth time that Brown has not conceded points in five starts this season, and the Astros have won three of their last four games.

"He's in the prime of his game," Astros coach Joe Espada praised, "confident, aggressive, open-minded, with top ball quality and mental quality." The transformation from last year's trough to now is a miracle. "

Since last May, Brown's 2.28 ERA is second only to pirate Paul Skenes' 2.14 (at least 125 innings). The last 26 starts (since June 8, 2023) are 13-5 and have a 1.98 ERA and 1.04 WHIP. The 24-innings clean sheet is the longest for an Astros starting pitcher since Cristian Javier's 25.1 innings in 2022.

"I just tried to play as best I could and prepared well with the catchers and the coaching staff," Brown said, "and the good defense allowed the game plan to be executed perfectly. "

Brown pitched his first seven-inning pitch of the season with 96 balls, with a top speed of 99.2 mph, a sinking ball of 97.9 mph, a variable ball of 91.2 mph and a slide of 91.9 mph. The Blue Jays hit just four infields and George Springer hit a first-base hit each in the second inning and Bo Bichette in the sixth. This season, the ERA dropped to 1.16 over 31 innings.

'We needed him to set the tone after yesterday's defeat, and Hunter did,' stressed Espada. Blue Jays coach John Schneider admitted: "When a pitcher doesn't concede 24 innings in a row, you have to take advantage of his mistakes — but he barely made a mistake tonight. "

Five innings for the Astros to break through Blue Jays starter Kevin Gausman: After back-to-back hits from Cam Smith and Brendan Rodgers, Zach Dezenzo broke the deadlock on second base and Jose Altuve added two points on second base.

Someone on bottom base in the sixth inning was out of the key goalkeeping: Brown let Vladimir Guerrero Jr. hit a 5-4-3 double, and third baseman Isaac Paredes made a brilliant save to start the defense. "If that ball crosses, you may need to use a layout pitcher early," Espada noted.

Backup pitcher Forrest Whitley didn't concede points in two innings and combined for 11 strikeouts. The Astros are conceding 3.59 points per game this season, the second-best in the United League, behind only the Tigers (3.48).