OC Register: Angels’ relievers lose no-hit bid in the 8th, but hang on to beat Rangers

[AngelsWin.com]

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  The Angels’ Jose Fernandez watches his home run during the second inning of Tuesday’s game against the Texas Rangers at Angel Stadium. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)

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  ANAHEIM, CA – SEPTEMBER 11: Jose Fernandez #20 of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim and catcher Isiah Kiner-Falefa #9 of the Texas Rangers watch the ball go for a home run over the right field wall during the second inning of the MLB game at Angel Stadium on September 11, 2018 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Victor Decolongon/Getty Images)

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  ANAHEIM, CA – SEPTEMBER 11: Pitcher Adrian Sampson #52 of the Texas Rangers looks on after giving up a solo home run to Jose Fernandez #20 of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim during the second inning of the MLB game at Angel Stadium on September 11, 2018 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Victor Decolongon/Getty Images)

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  ANAHEIM, CA – SEPTEMBER 11: Kaleb Cowart #22 of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim congratulates Jose Fernandez #20 with a hand slap after Fernandez hit a solo homerun during the second inning of the MLB game against the Texas Rangers at Angel Stadium on September 11, 2018 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Victor Decolongon/Getty Images)

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  Los Angeles Angels relief pitcher Jim Johnson throws against the Texas Rangers during the first inning of a baseball game in Anaheim, Calif., Tuesday, Sept. 11, 2018. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)

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  Texas Rangers second baseman Rougned Odor, left, tags Los Angeles Angels’ Justin Upton out at second during an attempted steal in the second inning of a baseball game in Anaheim, Calif., Tuesday, Sept. 11, 2018. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)

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  Texas Rangers starting pitcher Adrian Sampson throws against the Los Angeles Angels during the first inning of a baseball game in Anaheim, Calif., Tuesday, Sept. 11, 2018. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)

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  Los Angeles Angels’ Shohei Ohtani, of Japan, reacts after striking out against the Texas Rangers during the fourth inning of a baseball game in Anaheim, Calif., Tuesday, Sept. 11, 2018. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)

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  Angels relief pitcher Jim Johnson got the first four outs of the team’s planned “bullpen game” against the Texas Rangers on Tuesday night at Angel Stadium. (Photo by Victor Decolongon/Getty Images)

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ANAHEIM — Before the Angels’ latest bullpen game on Tuesday night, Mike Scioscia was asked about handling such games and he cut off the question.

“They’re not by design,” he said. “I wish we had Garrett Richards or Tyler Skaggs or Nick Tropeano or JC Ramírez.”

Without those injured starters, the Angels still ended up with something pretty good.

Eight Angels relievers combined on a two-hitter in a 1-0 victory over the Texas Rangers, with the only run coming on José Fernandez’s first career homer.

The first six pitchers handed a no-hit bid to Blake Parker, who gave up a one-out single to Isiah Kiner-Falefa in the eighth inning.

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Before that, the relievers had retired 13 in a row. Jim Johnson, who got the call to start his first game since his major league debut in July 2006, walked two of the six batters he faced. Noé Ramírez then got the next five outs, with a walk.

After that, Hansel Robles, Cam Bedrosian, Justin Anderson and José Álvarez each worked perfect innings.

Parker gave up the one-out single to Kiner-Falefa and then a two-out single to Rougned Odor, putting runners at the corners. Ty Buttrey was summoned, and he retired Jurrickson Profar with the help of a nice backhand from third baseman Kaleb Cowart.

The pitching and defense helped the Angels pick up their second 1-0 victory in three games.

The only run was on a second-inning homer by Fernandez.

More to come on this story.

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