TLDR: The Angels own the worst record in the American League and were playing out the string in Arlington — instead they walked into a division race and shut the door on it.
Ryan Johnson (2-7, 5.75 ERA) took the ball for Los Angeles at 6:05 PM CT carrying a quiet hot streak, having held opponents to 2 runs or fewer in 3 straight starts. Across from him, Cody Bradford (0-1, 3.05 ERA) was still finding his footing in his fourth start back from the elbow surgery that wiped out his 2025 season.
Ryan Johnson
(3-8)·5.17 ERA
Aug 16 vs Royals
L
5.1IP
2ER
4K
2BB
85P
08/22 Lineup
Cody Bradford
(0-4)·4.45 ERA
Aug 16 @ Athletics
ND
4.0IP
2ER
4K
1BB
81P
08/22 Lineup
Los Angeles arrived down two lineup regulars, with Wade Meckler landing on the 7-day concussion IL and Nolan Schanuel out with an intercostal strain. Texas had its own rotation worries, with Jacob deGrom managing triceps fatigue that cut short a recent outing, and the Rangers had taken the series opener from these same Angels 2-1 in extras the night before.
None of that mattered once the game got going at Globe Life Field. Johnson carried a no-hitter into the sixth inning for the second time this season, and by the time three Angels arms were finished, Texas had exactly 1 hit for the entire night.
Mike Trout supplied the first run with a first-inning single, Manuel Ballesteros doubled him home in the sixth, and Vladimir Grissom capped it with an eighth-inning single. It added up to a 3-0 shutout that nobody saw coming from a team sitting at 51-78.
For Texas, still hanging within striking distance of the AL West lead, the shutout was proof that even the league's bottom-feeders can end a hot stretch cold. Bradford's final line — 5.1 IP, 7 H, 2 ER — matched the shaky command he'd flagged going in, and the Rangers' bullpen had no answer for Johnson's fastball.
Angels 3, Rangers 0: Final Score & Odds Recap — Ryan Johnson No-Hits Rangers Into The 6th, Angels Shock Texas 3-0
