Rangers catcher Isiah Kiner-Falefa breaks up the no-hitter with a sharp single to right in the eighth inning.

The good news: Four Rangers pitchers combined to two-hit the powerful Los Angeles Angels.

Adrian Sampson, making his second-ever major league start after being picked up from the bargain bin, threw five innings of one-run baseball. The final three relievers shut out the Angels the rest of the way, including Martin Perez.

The bad news: Eight Angels pitchers combined to two-hit the scrappy Texas Rangers. It was a no-hitter through seven. But with one out in the eighth, Isiah Kiner-Falefa lined a single to right. One out later, Odor did the same thing. He stole second, putting the go-ahead runs in scoring position. But Profar grounded out.

Threat over. No-hitter over.

One inning later the game was over when the Rangers went out quietly one, two, three. The Rangers were shut out, losing 1-0.

They had their chances early, though. In each of the first three innings they drew a walk. But the runner was left stranded. Never even moving to second.

But in the fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh, it was three-up, three down.

The only good thing about this game was the encouraging start by Adrian Sampson. As with Jeffrey Springs’s start two games before, the Rangers are looking for any and all able bodied options for the rotation next year. You can’t get put too much stock into one September game. But at least it was encouraging.

Oh, there was one other good thing about last night’s game. It was over in two hours and forty-five minutes.

Just like with shots at the doctor’s office, it’s better to get the pain over quickly.

*****
TODAY’S GAME:

Yovani Gallardo (8-4, 6.22) vs. Felix Pena (2-4, 4.04)
Game time: 9:07

The Rangers have never hit against Pena.
How the Angels hit against Gallardo.