There was no hint, no indication, that Ricky Nolasco would suddenly morph into the dominant right-hander who went 4-2 with a 1.47 earned-run average in his final six starts of 2016 for the Angels.
It just happened, in the same way a bloop hit will sometimes spark a hot streak for a slumping hitter, and it couldn’t have come at a better time for an injury plagued rotation in need of a shot in the arm.
Nolasco threw his sixth career shutout and 12th complete game Saturday night, surrending just three singles, striking out seven and walking none in a 4-0 victory over the Seattle Mariners at Angel Stadium.