ANAHEIM, Calif. -- The book on Alex Meyer was pretty clear: big stuff, bigger control problems.
Not so much Wednesday night for the 6-foot-9 right-hander.
Meyer executed nearly to perfection while allowing a hit and a walk over seven innings and leading the Los Angeles Angels to a 7-0 victory that ended the Washington Nationals' six-game winning streak.
"We really didn't have much of a chance," Nationals manager Dusty Baker said. "Our reports were he didn't have very good command, but he did tonight."
Meyer (4-5) had a perfect game until he walked Anthony Rendon with two outs in the fifth. He lost his no-hitter with two outs in the sixth when Brian Goodwin doubled down the right-field line.
Meyer, Rendon and Goodwin were all first-round draft picks by the Nationals in 2011.
"I went to breakfast with (Goodwin) this morning and paid for it," Meyer said. "I'll have to talk to him about that."
Meyer had been plagued by walks this season (41 in 60 1/3 innings) but had just the one free pass in a career-high seven innings. He struck out seven.
David Hernandez and Jose Alvarez each threw a scoreless, hitless inning to complete the one-hitter. It was only the second time this season the Nationals have been shut out.
"To make outs the way he did says a lot about his upside and potential," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said.
Mike Trout and C.J. Cron each hit two-run homers to support Meyer. For Trout, it was his 18th of the season.
Gio Gonzalez (8-5) started for the Nationals but gave up a pair of first-inning runs on Albert Pujols' single and Andrelton Simmons' sacrifice fly, and it was all the runs Los Angeles would need.
Washington outfielder Bryce Harper did not play in the nationally televised game. It was a scheduled day off.
DEFENSIVE SUPPORT
Meyer was supported by more outstanding defense. Outfielder Shane Robinson made a diving stop on Daniel Murphy's drive in the first, and Simmons went deep into the hole to throw out Ryan Zimmerman in the seventh.
"We've been making the plays all year defensively," Scioscia said. "That's been one of the quiet factors that doesn't get a lot of play, but we're doing a great job defensively both in consistency and range."
The Angels have not made an error in their last 13 games.
FAMILIAR FACE
The Nationals took Meyer with the 23rd overall pick in the 2011 draft. He spent his first season at Class A before the Nationals traded him to the Minnesota Twins for outfielder Denard Span.
He came to the Angels last summer in a trade with the Twins.
"You can see why he was our No. 1 draft pick," Baker said. "If he keeps throwing like that, maybe they've found something."
TRAINER'S ROOM
Nationals: RHP Joe Ross had Tommy John surgery. ... OF Michael Taylor (oblique strain) resumed baseball activities. ... Nationals had no update on a second MRI on the fractured right wrist of shortstop Trea Turner. He is rehabbing in West Palm Beach, Florida.
Angels: Placed OF Cameron Maybin on the DL with a medial collateral ligament sprain in his right knee. The Angels said he would be out 2-4 weeks, though Maybin expects to return on the shorter end. ... Recalled Robinson from Triple-A and started him Wednesday.
UP NEXT
Nationals: After a day off Thursday, RHP Max Scherzer (11-5, 2.01 ERA) is scheduled to open a three-game series in Arizona on Friday. Originally drafted by the Diamondbacks, he is 5-0 with a 2.41 ERA in seven career starts against Arizona.
Angels: RHP Ricky Nolasco (4-10, 4.82 ERA) opens a three-game series at home against Boston on Friday. Nolasco has been erratic this season, but in his last start against Tampa Bay he held the Rays to one run and two hits in seven innings.
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More AP baseball: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball
Not so much Wednesday night for the 6-foot-9 right-hander.
Meyer executed nearly to perfection while allowing a hit and a walk over seven innings and leading the Los Angeles Angels to a 7-0 victory that ended the Washington Nationals' six-game winning streak.
"We really didn't have much of a chance," Nationals manager Dusty Baker said. "Our reports were he didn't have very good command, but he did tonight."
Meyer (4-5) had a perfect game until he walked Anthony Rendon with two outs in the fifth. He lost his no-hitter with two outs in the sixth when Brian Goodwin doubled down the right-field line.
Meyer, Rendon and Goodwin were all first-round draft picks by the Nationals in 2011.
"I went to breakfast with (Goodwin) this morning and paid for it," Meyer said. "I'll have to talk to him about that."
Meyer had been plagued by walks this season (41 in 60 1/3 innings) but had just the one free pass in a career-high seven innings. He struck out seven.
David Hernandez and Jose Alvarez each threw a scoreless, hitless inning to complete the one-hitter. It was only the second time this season the Nationals have been shut out.
"To make outs the way he did says a lot about his upside and potential," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said.
Mike Trout and C.J. Cron each hit two-run homers to support Meyer. For Trout, it was his 18th of the season.
Gio Gonzalez (8-5) started for the Nationals but gave up a pair of first-inning runs on Albert Pujols' single and Andrelton Simmons' sacrifice fly, and it was all the runs Los Angeles would need.
Washington outfielder Bryce Harper did not play in the nationally televised game. It was a scheduled day off.
DEFENSIVE SUPPORT
Meyer was supported by more outstanding defense. Outfielder Shane Robinson made a diving stop on Daniel Murphy's drive in the first, and Simmons went deep into the hole to throw out Ryan Zimmerman in the seventh.
"We've been making the plays all year defensively," Scioscia said. "That's been one of the quiet factors that doesn't get a lot of play, but we're doing a great job defensively both in consistency and range."
The Angels have not made an error in their last 13 games.
FAMILIAR FACE
The Nationals took Meyer with the 23rd overall pick in the 2011 draft. He spent his first season at Class A before the Nationals traded him to the Minnesota Twins for outfielder Denard Span.
He came to the Angels last summer in a trade with the Twins.
"You can see why he was our No. 1 draft pick," Baker said. "If he keeps throwing like that, maybe they've found something."
TRAINER'S ROOM
Nationals: RHP Joe Ross had Tommy John surgery. ... OF Michael Taylor (oblique strain) resumed baseball activities. ... Nationals had no update on a second MRI on the fractured right wrist of shortstop Trea Turner. He is rehabbing in West Palm Beach, Florida.
Angels: Placed OF Cameron Maybin on the DL with a medial collateral ligament sprain in his right knee. The Angels said he would be out 2-4 weeks, though Maybin expects to return on the shorter end. ... Recalled Robinson from Triple-A and started him Wednesday.
UP NEXT
Nationals: After a day off Thursday, RHP Max Scherzer (11-5, 2.01 ERA) is scheduled to open a three-game series in Arizona on Friday. Originally drafted by the Diamondbacks, he is 5-0 with a 2.41 ERA in seven career starts against Arizona.
Angels: RHP Ricky Nolasco (4-10, 4.82 ERA) opens a three-game series at home against Boston on Friday. Nolasco has been erratic this season, but in his last start against Tampa Bay he held the Rays to one run and two hits in seven innings.
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More AP baseball: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball
| View: Play-By-Play | Pitch-By-Pitch | Inning: All | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 |
| Washington - Top of 1st | SCORE | |
|---|---|---|
| Alex Meyer pitching for Los Angeles | WSH | LAA |
| Goodwin lined out to center. | 0 | 0 |
| Raburn lined out to right. | 0 | 0 |
| Murphy lined out to right. | 0 | 0 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Los Angeles - Bottom of 1st | SCORE | |
| Gio Gonzalez pitching for Washington | WSH | LAA |
| Escobar singled to right. | 0 | 0 |
| Trout walked, Escobar to second. | 0 | 0 |
| Pujols singled to left, Escobar scored, Trout to third. | 0 | 1 |
| Cron struck out swinging. | 0 | 1 |
| Simmons hit sacrifice fly to center, Trout scored. | 0 | 2 |
| Maldonado grounded into fielder's choice to shortstop, Pujols out at second. | 0 | 2 |
| 2 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Washington - Top of 2nd | SCORE | |
| Alex Meyer pitching for Los Angeles | WSH | LAA |
| Zimmerman grounded out to shortstop. | 0 | 2 |
| Lind struck out swinging. | 0 | 2 |
| Rendon struck out looking. | 0 | 2 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Los Angeles - Bottom of 2nd | SCORE | |
| Gio Gonzalez pitching for Washington | WSH | LAA |
| Robinson flied out to left. | 0 | 2 |
| Pennington singled to right center. | 0 | 2 |
| Revere flied out to center. | 0 | 2 |
| Escobar grounded out to third. | 0 | 2 |
| 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Washington - Top of 3rd | SCORE | |
| Alex Meyer pitching for Los Angeles | WSH | LAA |
| Wieters struck out swinging. | 0 | 2 |
| Drew struck out swinging. | 0 | 2 |
| Heisey flied out to center. | 0 | 2 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Los Angeles - Bottom of 3rd | SCORE | |
| Gio Gonzalez pitching for Washington | WSH | LAA |
| Trout struck out swinging. | 0 | 2 |
| Pujols struck out looking. | 0 | 2 |
| Cron singled to center. | 0 | 2 |
| Simmons grounded out to third. | 0 | 2 |
| 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Washington - Top of 4th | SCORE | |
| Alex Meyer pitching for Los Angeles | WSH | LAA |
| Goodwin grounded out to first. | 0 | 2 |
| Raburn grounded out to shortstop. | 0 | 2 |
| Murphy flied out to left. | 0 | 2 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Los Angeles - Bottom of 4th | SCORE | |
| Gio Gonzalez pitching for Washington | WSH | LAA |
| Maldonado fouled out to first. | 0 | 2 |
| Robinson flied out to right. | 0 | 2 |
| Pennington flied out to right. | 0 | 2 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Washington - Top of 5th | SCORE | |
| Alex Meyer pitching for Los Angeles | WSH | LAA |
| Zimmerman struck out swinging. | 0 | 2 |
| Lind grounded out to first. | 0 | 2 |
| Rendon walked. | 0 | 2 |
| Wieters flied out to left. | 0 | 2 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Los Angeles - Bottom of 5th | SCORE | |
| Gio Gonzalez pitching for Washington | WSH | LAA |
| Revere grounded out to second. | 0 | 2 |
| Escobar grounded out to shortstop. | 0 | 2 |
| Trout flied out to center. | 0 | 2 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Washington - Top of 6th | SCORE | |
| Alex Meyer pitching for Los Angeles | WSH | LAA |
| Drew grounded out to shortstop. | 0 | 2 |
| Heisey struck out swinging. | 0 | 2 |
| Goodwin doubled to right. | 0 | 2 |
| Raburn struck out swinging. | 0 | 2 |
| 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Los Angeles - Bottom of 6th | SCORE | |
| Gio Gonzalez pitching for Washington | WSH | LAA |
| Pujols walked. | 0 | 2 |
| Cron homered to left center (461 feet), Pujols scored. | 0 | 4 |
| Simmons grounded out to third. | 0 | 4 |
| Maldonado walked. | 0 | 4 |
| Robinson grounded into fielder's choice to shortstop, Maldonado out at second. | 0 | 4 |
| Blanton relieved Gonzalez. | 0 | 4 |
| Pennington struck out swinging. | 0 | 4 |
| 2 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Washington - Top of 7th | SCORE | |
| Alex Meyer pitching for Los Angeles | WSH | LAA |
| Murphy grounded out to second. | 0 | 4 |
| Zimmerman grounded out to shortstop. | 0 | 4 |
| Lind grounded out to first. | 0 | 4 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Los Angeles - Bottom of 7th | SCORE | |
| Joe Blanton pitching for Washington | WSH | LAA |
| Revere singled to right. | 0 | 4 |
| Revere stole second, Revere safe at third on throwing error by catcher Wieters. | 0 | 4 |
| Escobar singled to center, Revere scored. | 0 | 5 |
| Trout homered to left center (407 feet), Escobar scored. | 0 | 7 |
| Albers relieved Blanton. | 0 | 7 |
| Pujols grounded out to shortstop. | 0 | 7 |
| Cron struck out looking. | 0 | 7 |
| Simmons walked. | 0 | 7 |
| Maldonado struck out swinging. | 0 | 7 |
| 3 Runs, 3 Hits, 1 Errors | ||
| Washington - Top of 8th | SCORE | |
| David Hernandez pitching for Los Angeles | WSH | LAA |
| Hernandez relieved Meyer. | 0 | 7 |
| Rendon flied out to right. | 0 | 7 |
| Wieters grounded out to first. | 0 | 7 |
| Drew grounded out to second. | 0 | 7 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Los Angeles - Bottom of 8th | SCORE | |
| Enny Romero pitching for Washington | WSH | LAA |
| Romero relieved Albers. | 0 | 7 |
| Robinson flied out to right. | 0 | 7 |
| Pennington singled to center. | 0 | 7 |
| Revere lined out to center. | 0 | 7 |
| Escobar grounded out to third. | 0 | 7 |
| 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Washington - Top of 9th | SCORE | |
| Jose Alvarez pitching for Los Angeles | WSH | LAA |
| Álvarez relieved Hernandez. | 0 | 7 |
| Heisey flied out to left. | 0 | 7 |
| Goodwin struck out looking. | 0 | 7 |
| Raburn struck out swinging. | 0 | 7 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Washington Nationals | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hitters | AB | R | H | RBI | BB | SO | #P | AVG | OBP | SLG |
| Goodwin CF | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 15 | .238 | .310 | .470 |
| Raburn LF | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 14 | .271 | .317 | .458 |
| Murphy 2B | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 11 | .337 | .390 | .576 |
| Zimmerman 1B | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 12 | .323 | .368 | .582 |
| Lind DH | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 13 | .323 | .380 | .564 |
| Rendon 3B | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 14 | .318 | .423 | .593 |
| Wieters C | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 17 | .246 | .295 | .375 |
| Drew SS | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 14 | .264 | .300 | .374 |
| Heisey RF | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 11 | .159 | .205 | .246 |
| Totals | 28 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 9 | 121 | |||
| BATTING 2B: Goodwin (12, Meyer) Nationals RISP: 0-1 (Raburn 0-1) Team LOB: 2 | ||||||||||
| FIELDING E: Wieters (3, throw) | ||||||||||
Game Information
| Stadium | Angel Stadium of Anaheim, Anaheim, CA |
| Attendance | 41,065 (90.3% full) - % is based on regular season capacity |
| Game Time | 2:47 |
| Weather | 79 degrees, partly cloudy |
| Wind | 8 mph |
| Umpires | Home Plate - Cory Blaser, First Base - Doug Eddings, Second Base - Laz Diaz, Third Base - Jeff Nelson |
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