Blanco, making only his eight MLB start at 30 years old, is a former infielder who switched to pitching at 18 years old and visited several academies in the Dominican Republic before the Astros eventually signed him for $5,000.

Blanco threw 36 changeups, 34 sliders, 31 fastballs and four curveballs, but it was the changeup that carried him through the game. He generated 59 swings in the game, including 20 whiffs -- half of which came on his changeup. He hit 95.1 mph with his fastball.