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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, CA – SEPTEMBER 11: Isiah Kiner-Falefa #9 of the Texas Rangers hits a single to right field during the eighth inning of the MLB game against the Los Angeles Angels at Angel Stadium on September 11, 2018 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Victor Decolongon/Getty Images)
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ANAHEIM, CA – SEPTEMBER 11: Isiah Kiner-Falefa #9 of the Texas Rangers gets a fist bump from first base coach Steve Buechele #22 after Kiner-Falefa hit a single to right field for the Rangers first hit of the game during the eighth inning of the MLB game against the Los Angeles Angels at Angel Stadium on September 11, 2018 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Victor Decolongon/Getty Images)
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Los Angeles Angels catcher Joe Hudson and pitcher Ty Buttrey celebrate after their 1-0 win over the Texas Rangers after a baseball game in Anaheim, Calif., Tuesday, Sept. 11, 2018. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)
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ANAHEIM, CA – SEPTEMBER 11: Shohei Ohtani #17 and Mike Trout #27 of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim celebrate after the MLB game at Angel Stadium on September 11, 2018 in Anaheim, California. The Angels defeated the Rangers 1-0. (Photo by Victor Decolongon/Getty Images)
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Los Angeles Angels center fielder Mike Trout, from left, right fielder Kole Calhoun and left fielder Justin Upton run off the field after their win against the Texas Rangers during a baseball game in Anaheim, Calif., Tuesday, Sept. 11, 2018. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)
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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.
For as much as Scioscia would prefer to have one of his true starters, the relievers see a game like this as an opportunity.
“The past couple years we’ve been kind of under the radar as far as bullpens, but we always had confidence in ourselves,” Blake Parker said. “We chomp at the bit when we get a bullpen day. We take pride in that, and going out and putting up zeros.”
The first six pitchers did just that, holding the Rangers hitless. While some – including Scioscia – said they had no idea there was a no-hitter in progress, Parker admitted he knew when he entered in the eighth.
“As much as it’s something you don’t want to be focused on, it’s always in the back of your head,” Parker said.
One out into the eighth, Parker gave up a single to Isiah Kiner-Falefa.
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.
Andrelton Simmons made an outstanding play on a ground ball up the middle to start the ninth, helping Buttrey to get the four outs he needed for his second career save. Buttrey, who came to the Angels in the Ian Kinsler trade, has allowed one run in 11-2/3 innings with the Angels.
Had they held the Rangers hitless, the Angels would have set the record for most pitchers to combine on a no-hitter, surpassing the six used by the Houston Astros (2003, against the Yankees) and Seattle Mariners (2012, against the Dodgers).
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, a 30-year-old Cuban whose career stalled after a failed attempt to defect.
“I am very proud of what I accomplished today, helping the team to win,” Fernandez said through an interpreter. “I’m very happy to be here. It’s a great moment.”
Fernandez added that he had had received the ball from his homer, which “is going to be with me for life.”
Not a bad way to finish out your first-career start behind the dish.@Angels | @Alex_Curry pic.twitter.com/MHi7QHxl1q
— FOX Sports West (@FoxSportsWest) September 12, 2018
‘That ball was crushed!’
First-career home run for Jose Fernandez
@Angels 1, Rangers 0 pic.twitter.com/UShC38p8bf
— FOX Sports West (@FoxSportsWest) September 12, 2018
“The best experience of my career.”
Soak it in, Jose Fernandez. The first home run of many with the @Angels
pic.twitter.com/89AcP7cYfy
— FOX Sports West (@FoxSportsWest) September 12, 2018
#NeverForget pic.twitter.com/UIcpK5yPxI
— FOX Sports West (@FoxSportsWest) September 12, 2018