Angels' Ryan Johnson, two relievers combine on 1-hitter in 3-0 victory over the Rangers

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Rookie Ryan Johnson carried a no-hitter into the sixth inning for second time this season and three Los Angeles Angels pitchers combined for a one-hitter in a 3-0 win over the Texas Rangers on Saturday night.

Johnson (3-7) struck out three in a career-high seven innings and won for the first time since July 19. He allowed only Cody Freeman’s leadoff single in the sixth inning and two walks with a hit batter. On June 23, the 24-year-old right-hander threw 6 1/3 innings of no-hit ball in beating Baltimore 5-1.

Rookie Ryan Watson followed Michael Fulmer and recorded his second save.

Zach Neto went 3 for 5 with two doubles, a triple and two runs two nights after going 5 for 6 at Houston. The Angels (52-78) beat the Rangers (64-66), who are competing for an AL playoff spot, for the eighth time in 12 games this season.

Johnson defeated left-hander Cody Bradford (0-2) in a matchup of Dallas-Fort Worth players.

Johnson is from Red Oak, Texas, located about 30 miles southeast of Arlington, and played collegiately at Dallas Baptist. Bradford is from Aledo, about 30 miles west of Globe Life Field, and played collegiately for Baylor, about 90 miles south.

Bradford allowed two runs on seven hits in 5 1/3 innings. He missed all of last season recovering from elbow surgery, made his 2026 debut on Aug. 5, and was looking for his first major league win since September 2024.

The Angels picked up their 11th shutout of the season. Texas was shut out for the 10th time this season, including twice in the last four games.

Texas’ Jake Burger was hit by Johnson in the third inning and left the game after four innings with a left wrist contusion. X-rays were negative, and Burger is listed as day to day.

Rangers RHP Cal Quantrill (5-4, 3.13 ERA) is scheduled to start Sunday's rubber game of the series against Angels LHP Yusei Kikuchi (0-3, 5.81), who will be making his first appearance since May 29 due to shoulder inflammation.

See AP’s full MLB coverage here

Former Texas Rangers Ivan Rodriguez, left, and Rusty Greer shake hands before a baseball game between the Los Angeles Angels and Texas Rangers, Saturday, Aug. 22, 2026, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

Texas Rangers' Jake Burger is hit by a pitch during the third inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Angels, Saturday, Aug. 22, 2026, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

Texas Rangers starting pitcher Cody Bradford throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Angels, Saturday, Aug. 22, 2026, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

Los Angeles Angels' Zach Neto (9) reacts from second base next to Texas Rangers first baseman Jake Burger (21) after hitting a double during the first inning of a baseball game, Saturday, Aug. 22, 2026, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

Los Angeles Angels starting pitcher Ryan Johnson throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the Texas Rangers, Saturday, Aug. 22, 2026, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

DALLAS (AP) — A Texas judge denied a new trial for Karmelo Anthony on Saturday in the stabbing death of a 17-year-old athlete at a high school track meet, a killing that drew national attention and led to harassment of the families.

Anthony, 19, was convicted of murder in June and sentenced to 35 years in prison for the April 2025 killing of Austin Metcalf.

Judge Michael Chitty denied the retrial motion in a half-page order following a two-day hearing this week near Dallas, citing a review of the evidence and arguments. He did not elaborate.

Russell Wilson, Anthony's attorney, said the defense would appeal.

“Our commitment to our client has not changed,” Wilson said. “We will continue to advocate vigorously on his behalf through every lawful avenue available.”

At the center of Anthony’s retrial request was an off-the-record agreement between prosecutors and his trial defense team to keep damaging character evidence about both teenagers out of the proceeding. Both sides agreed to hold back evidence that risked further inflaming a case already boiling with racial tensions and death threats.

The case attracted widespread attention in part because of a flood of social media posts that amplified the killing in racial terms. Anthony is Black; Metcalf was white. Lawyers on both sides, however, told jurors that the case had nothing to do with race.

Worries that prosecutors would renege on the agreement as Anthony prepared to testify, his attorneys say, came after a heated argument between lawyers on both sides and changed their defense strategy at the eleventh hour. Anthony ultimately decided not to testify.

Prosecutor Bill Wirskye defended the trial as fair this week.

“We respect, and expected, the court’s decision denying the motion for a new trial,” Collin County District Attorney Greg Willis said after the denial was announced. “The jury’s guilty verdict stands, and we remain confident in the process. Every defendant has the right to appeal, and our thoughts and prayers remain with the Metcalf family in the painful wake of last week’s hearing.”

Anthony’s attorneys also demanded a retrial because they said trial judge John Roach’s courtroom rules were so strict that they limited the public’s access to the proceedings. And in asking for Roach's recusal, they noted that he gave a posttrial interview with a Dallas TV station in which he expressed agreement with the jury's decision.

“Whatever they say, they got it right,” Roach said.

Roach said his rules were necessary for a fair trial, and prosecutors insisted he did nothing wrong.

Jurors rejected Anthony’s claims that he was defending himself during a confrontation with Metcalf in the bleachers of the track meet.

Anthony and Metcalf were athletes for different high schools in the Dallas suburb of Frisco, where several teams were competing on the rainy spring day when the meet took place.

Anthony sat under the tent that belonged to Metcalf's team, and Metcalf and others repeatedly told him to leave, witnesses testified. That led to an escalating confrontation.

Prosecutors said Anthony provoked Metcalf, and witnesses identified Anthony as the aggressor.

At one point Anthony reached inside a bag and said: “Touch me and see what happens,” according to a police report.

Witnesses said Metcalf pushed Anthony, who pulled out a knife and stabbed him in the chest.

This booking photo provided by the Texas Department of Criminal Justice on Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2026, shows Karmelo Anthony. (Texas Department of Criminal Justice via AP)