Angels Allow Just One Hit In 3-0 Shutout Win Over Texas

The Los Angeles Angels rode a brilliant one-hit pitching performance from Ryan Johnson and a pair of relievers to shut out and shut down the Texas Rangers in a 3-0 win. 

The Angels broke out early when Zach Neto doubled off Rangers starter Cody Bradford, and Mike Trout singled him home to give the Halos a 1-0 lead. 

Mike Trout helped double that lead by hitting a two-bagger, and he move to third on a sacrifice fly by Vaughn Grissom. Moises Ballasteros then doubled him home to make to 2-o. 

The Angels extended their lead in the eighth as Zach Neto continued his recent tear with a triple, as he went into that at bat having gone 12-for-22. Vaughn Grissom singled him home to make it 3-0. 

Johnson finished his outing with his best line as an Angel, as he went seven innings and gave up just one hit and two walks to go with three strikeouts in a shutout effort. It was yet another sign that Johnson his starting to figure it out as the Angels continue to build what could be a strong rotation down the stretch and next year. 

Brad Fullmer entered the game in the eighth to try to pick up Johnson, and Fullmer pitched a scoreless inning as he gave up just a walk. 

The closer spot became an open tryout for the night with Ben Joyce unavailable after taking a loss in extra innings the night before, so Ryan Watson was up for the audition. Watson was up for the task, too, as he pitched a 1-2-3 inning with a fine play on a ground ball by Denzer Guzman to take the Halos home and make the 3-0 score final and official. 

The Angels wound up pitching a combined one hitter, with the long Texas run coming on a lined single by Cody Freeman in the sixth. Watson got his second save of the season but his first under genuine pressure, and Johnson ran his record to 3-7 as he continues to recover from his bad start. 

The win pushed the Halos to 11-10 for the month of August, and it gave them a chance win back-to-back series in Texas after their series win over the Houston Astros. There are plenty of unexpected positives happening with this team as they continue to play with renewed energy after the trade deadline, and the Angels will send an unnamed starter to the mound tomorrow against Cal Quantrill to try and pull off the series win.