Top 5 Astros stories of 2013

Jarred Cosart (Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports)

#3. Jarred Cosart flirts with no-hitter in big league debut

On July 12th the Astros called up 23-year old pitching prospect Jarred Cosart to make a start in Tampa. His mound opponent: reigning Cy Young Award winner David Price. No problem.

Fueled by adrenaline, Cosart would steal the show. He would retire the first nine batters in order before issuing a walk to Desmond Jennings to start the fourth inning. Cosart would continue to mesmerize Tampa Bay hitters deep into the contest, taking a no-hitter into the seventh inning. Exhibiting pinpoint command, Cosart used a combination of fastballs and curves to keep the Rays off balance all night long.

Ben Zobrist finally broke up the no-no with a grounder through the right side with one out in the seventh. But Cosart didn’t flinch. He would quickly erase Zobrist on a double-play ball to end the inning, taking a 1-hitter to the eighth. James Loney would get Tampa Bay’s second hit of the night leading off the eighth, but another double-play ball would get Cosart out of the inning unscathed.

All the while, Price was doing a great job of keeping his team within striking distance. He would set the Astros down in order in the ninth, keeping the score at 2-0.

Cosart would turn the ball over to Jose Veras for the bottom of the ninth, having thrown only 96 pitches in a brilliant debut. The Rays would plate a single run off the Astros closer but it wasn’t enough to deny Cosart the victory.