Aledo's Cody Bradford took the Globe Life Field mound Saturday opposite Red Oak's Ryan Johnson, and the former Baylor left-hander was on the wrong end of a one-hit shutout.
The Los Angeles Angels beat the Texas Rangers 3-0 as Johnson carried a no-hitter into the sixth and three Angels pitchers combined on one hit, the Associated Press reported. Johnson (3-7), who starred at Dallas Baptist, worked seven innings, allowed Cody Freeman's leadoff single in the sixth, walked two, hit one batter and struck out three for his first win since July 19.
Michael Fulmer and Ryan Watson finished it, with Watson collecting his second save.
Bradford (0-2) lasted 5 1/3 innings and allowed two runs on seven hits with no walks and three strikeouts. He missed the entire 2025 season after elbow surgery, returned Aug. 5, and is still looking for his first major league victory since September 2024.
The AP noted the geographic symmetry: Johnson is from about 30 miles southeast of Arlington; Bradford is from about 30 miles west of the ballpark in Aledo.
What the loss cost Texas
Texas dropped to 64-66 and lost sole possession of the third American League wild-card berth, finishing the night tied with Cleveland after Cleveland's win, according to wild-card standings summarized with the AP recap. The Rangers remained one game behind Houston in the AL West. Los Angeles, at 52-78, beat Texas for the eighth time in 12 meetings and recorded its 11th shutout.
Texas was shut out for the 10th time this season and the second time in four games.
Zach Neto did the heaviest damage, going 3 for 5 with two doubles, a triple and two runs. Scoring plays came on Mike Trout's RBI single in the first, Moisés Ballesteros' RBI double in the sixth and Vaughn Grissom's RBI single in the eighth, the ESPN summary showed.
Burger's surgically repaired wrist
Jake Burger, Texas' RBI leader, was plunked in the third by a 95.1 mph Johnson sinker on the left wrist/forearm area that had offseason tendon and sheath surgery, MLB.com reported. He remained in the game briefly, then exited before the fifth with a left wrist contusion. X-rays were negative; he is day to day with more imaging planned.
