September 2, 1990

By J.P. Antonacci

Canadian Baseball Network

Abraham Toro will never forget his first major league home run. Chances are he’ll remember his second, too.

With two out and one on in the ninth, Toro (Longueuil, Que.) took a fastball from Blue Jays closer Ken Giles over the left field wall, breaking a scoreless tie and giving Houston starter Justin Verlander all the support he would need to finish his third career no-hitter on Sunday in Toronto.

As he had done all afternoon, Verlander walked to the mound in the bottom of the ninth and calmly carved up the Blue Jay hitters. Bo Bichette bounced to Toro for the final out – a storybook ending to the Canadian third baseman’s second career game on home soil, and Verlander’s second no-hitter at Rogers Centre.

Toro wasn’t even meant to be in this game – his eighth in the majors following a call-up on August 22 – but Yuli Gurriel was scratched with an injury about an hour before first pitch, and Astros manager A.J. Hinch pencilled the 22-year-old rookie into the starting lineup.

It turned out to be a stroke of genius.

Toro struck out in his first two at-bats and drove a fly ball to the warning track in the fifth. Memories of that last at-bat gave him pause when he connected off Giles in the ninth.

“I didn’t know (if it was gone), because the last at bat I hit it pretty good and it got caught. So I just put my head down and started running,” said Toro, who was mobbed by his teammates after he rounded the bases.

“The whole dugout was going crazy, because everybody knew what was on the line,” he said.

Even Verlander couldn’t resist showing his appreciation for Toro’s heroics.

“He gave me a big hug after that,” Toro said with a smile.

“When it went out, my reaction on the outside probably didn’t reflect what it was on the inside, because I knew I had one more inning to go and I wanted to stay focused,” Verlander said.

“But I could not be happier for that kid. Just an incredible moment for him. From Canada, to be able to do that, and then get the last out as well. It’s such a special moment and I’m happy I’m able to celebrate with him.”

Hinch got a kick out of seeing Toro jumping up and down in the dugout with his teammates after his clutch home run.

“He’s been here a few weeks and that’s the happiest I’ve seen him,” the manager said with a smile. “Such a huge home run. To do that in front of family and friends in a park that he’s been to before (as a teenager playing in Tournament 12) is special.”

Verlander had his way with Toronto’s rookie-laden lineup. He walked Cavan Biggio in the first inning and then set down 26 straight Jays, pumping in fastballs that got faster as the game went on and finishing with 14 strikeouts on 120 pitches.

The Astros ace – who no-hit the Jays 9-0 on May 11, 2011, as a member of the Detroit Tigers – said his second no-hitter in Toronto felt even sweeter, as it came after he battled through some down seasons before rediscovering his form as an elite starter.

“It’s been a long process for me to get back to the pitcher I wanted to be. That last one in 2011 was kind of the height of my pitching as a young man,” said Verlander,

“So to have it kind of come together on a day like this, and really over the last couple of years, it’s special. You hate to work that hard and have it not work out, so it’s nice to have some success.”

Verlander joins Nolan Ryan, Sandy Koufax, Bob Feller, Cy Young and Larry Corcoran in the exclusive club of MLB pitchers who’ve thrown three or more no-hitters.

“It means a lot,” Verlander said. “Since I had two, I think I’ve blown two in the ninth, a couple in the eighth. So I’m definitely aware (and it was) definitely a big hurdle to get over.”

The veteran starter’s dominating effort overshadowed what was an excellent game by the Blue Jays bullpen. Opener Wilmer Font and relievers Sam Gaviglio and Zach Godley stifled one of baseball’s best offences for eight innings, punching out eight with just one walk, until Toro broke through against Giles in the ninth.

Verlander said once Bichette hit the bouncer to third, he tried to mentally will the ball into Toro’s glove, and then to Aledmys Diaz’s at first.

“As soon as he catches it, it’s elation,” Verlander said.

Amid the celebration on the field, Verlander sought out Toro and gave him another big hug.

“I knew that to have a chance, there needed to be a run in that inning,” Verlander said, since with his pitch count rising there was no guarantee he’d be able to pitch the 10th.

“I mean, two outs, what a spot. What an incredible moment,” Verlander said of Toro’s big hit. “The moments matter in this game. It seemed kinda scripted for him.”

Jim Stevenson, the Astros scout who signed Toro out of Oklahoma’s Seminole State College, was monitoring the game online and then watched the last few innings.

“Those are the kinds of moments that can elevate your career a bit early on,” Stevenson said. “It makes tomorrow easier.”

Between the whirlwind of getting called up and then doing a second round of interviews with Canadian media once the Astros got to Toronto, Toro’s production at the plate had lagged, as did his playing time once Diaz returned from injury. Toro’s big game could be a game-changer down the stretch, Stevenson said.

“I think that really helps his confidence and helps him feel comfortable,” he said. “The opening week and coming to Canada, it’s a lot. I think now he gets to exhale a little bit.”

Before hitting the road, the rookie took a moment to savour his memorable weekend, punctuated by a game for the ages.

“It’s been unreal,” Toro said. “First no-hitter, first time playing in Canada as a professional. It’s something I’ll remember forever.”