Astros become first team to record two immaculate innings in one game: 'Same game. Same batters.'

Starting pitcher Luis Garcia and reliever Phil Maton helped the Houston Astros make Major League Baseball (MLB) history on Wednesday by becoming the first team to record two immaculate innings in the same game.

The Astros accomplished the feat in its 9-2 win over the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Field in Arlington, giving manager Dusty Baker a memorable birthday present and tightening the team’s grip on the Silver Boot.

According to the Baseball Reference website, an immaculate inning is when a pitcher strikes out all three batters he faces in an inning using the minimum possible number of pitches, which is nine.

Garcia put together the first of the two during the bottom of the second, fanning Texas hitters Nathaniel Lowe, Ezequiel Duran and Brad Miller.

In the bottom of the seventh, it was déjà vu for the visitors as Maton retired the same trio of batters.

“Same game. Same batters,” the Astros’ official Twitter account proclaimed in an all-caps tweet.

Maton, known for his poker face expression, flashed a rare smile when he returned to the dugout.

The Astros continued to ride the momentum from Tuesday’s comeback victory by putting on a hitting clinic in the top of the first.

RBI doubles from left fielder Yordan Alvarez and catcher Martin Maldonado, an RBI single from centerfielder Jose Siri and an RBI groundout from Kyle Tucker built a whopping 6-0 lead to start the afternoon.

Maldonado, one of the team’s worst hitters, later knocked a solo home run (HR) in the fourth and first baseman Yuli Gurriel added another HR before Maton appeared for the historic frame.

According to a report on the team’s website, the last time the Astros had an immaculate inning was on Sept. 27, 2019, when Will Harris was on the mound against the Los Angeles Angels.

The Astros have tallied nine immaculate innings in its 60-year existence, per the report.