The Texas Rangers managed one hit Saturday night at Globe Life Field and watched a wild-card cushion disappear in a 3-0 loss to the Los Angeles Angels.
Rookie Ryan Johnson, a Red Oak product who pitched at Dallas Baptist, carried a no-hitter into the sixth inning for the second time this season before Cody Freeman's leadoff single, the Associated Press reported. Johnson, Michael Fulmer and Ryan Watson then finished a one-hitter.
Johnson (3-7) worked a career-high seven innings, allowing one hit, two walks and a hit batter with three strikeouts for his first win since July 19. Watson recorded his second save.
Texas fell to 64-66. The Rangers entered the day alone in the third American League wild-card spot and finished tied with Cleveland at that record after Cleveland beat Colorado, according to standings roundups tied to the Associated Press account. Houston sat one game ahead in the AL West after Saturday's results, leaving Texas chasing on two fronts with five weeks of regular season still ahead.
A DFW pitching matchup
Johnson faced Cody Bradford, the Aledo left-hander and former Baylor pitcher, in a game the AP framed as a Dallas-Fort Worth starter duel. Bradford (0-2) allowed two runs on seven hits in 5 1/3 innings with no walks and three strikeouts.
He missed all of 2025 after elbow surgery, debuted this year on Aug. 5, and is still seeking his first major league win since September 2024.
Zach Neto went 3 for 5 with two doubles, a triple and two runs for the Angels (52-78). Mike Trout's RBI single in the first, Moisés Ballesteros' RBI double in the sixth and Vaughn Grissom's RBI single in the eighth produced the three runs, per the ESPN game summary. Los Angeles improved to 8-4 against Texas this season and posted its 11th shutout.
The Rangers were blanked for the 10th time, including twice in their last four games.
Burger exits with wrist contusion
First baseman Jake Burger was hit by a 95.1 mph sinker from Johnson in the third inning on the same left wrist that underwent offseason tendon and sheath surgery, MLB.com reported. Burger stayed in initially, then left before the fifth with a left wrist contusion. X-rays were negative, and he was listed as day to day with further scans expected.
