Noah Cameron flirts with no-hitter, perfect game in sensational start vs. Angels

Jaylon Thompson, The Kansas City Star on Aug 16, 2026

Published in Baseball

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ANAHEIM, Calif. — As Kansas City celebrated “816 Day” across the metro, St. Joseph, Mo., native Noah Cameron made sure no one would forget his afternoon start in Anaheim.

On Sunday, Cameron led the Kansas City Royals to a 3-0 victory over the Los Angeles Angels at Angel Stadium.

And Cameron was nearly perfect.

Cameron sat down the first 15 batters he faced. He relied on his defense while inducing 10 flyouts in his start. And he didn’t have much trouble navigating around potential trouble.

The Angels swung early and often, and Cameron utilized their aggressiveness to his advantage. He hammered the strike zone — primarily using his slider and changeup — and pitched to both sides of the plate.

That set the tone for an efficient outing in which Cameron struck out eight batters, walked only one and allowed just one hit. He pitched a complete-game shutout.

The only blemishes: Cameron lost his perfect-game bid in the sixth. He walked Angels second baseman Oswald Peraza on five pitches. But with a runner aboard, Cameron was able to preserve a no-hit bid thanks to Michael Massy snaring a line drive off the bat of Angels shortstop Zach Neto to end the frame.

The Angels recorded their first — and only — hit in the seventh inning.

Massey also carried the offensive load. He finished 3 for 4 while belting his 11th home run in the fourth inning. It was his second homer in the series.

Royals star Bobby Witt Jr. also homered. He belted a solo shot into left field.

Witt snapped a 17-game homerless streak. His last home run came on July 9 against the New York Mets — prior to his recent stint on the injury list.

Cameron received additional run support in the seventh inning. Kansas City native Carter Jensen added an RBI single to snap an 0 for 18 stretch on the road trip.

Cameron struck out Mike Trout to begin the other half of the frame, but Vaughn Grissom broke up the no-hitter by flaring a bloop single into left field.

Still, Cameron remained unfazed. He retired Angels outfield duo Jose Siri and Wade Meckler to end the inning.

Royals manager Matt Quatraro let him finish the game with a three-run lead. Cameron became the first Royals pitcher since Zack Greinke on Aug. 30, 2009, to record a one-hit complete game.

He also set a career-high with nine innings pitched. Cameron is the second Royals starter this season to toss a complete game, joining Stephen Kolek; he accomplished it on May 23 against the Seattle Mariners.

The Royals improved to 51-74 and won the series outright. Cameron has now allowed five runs over his last 37 2/3 innings — which coincides with him choosing to call his own pitches on July 24 against the Detroit Tigers.

The Angels dropped to 49-76.

What’s next

The Royals haven’t announced a starter for Monday’s game against the Athletics at Kauffman Stadium. Athletics right-handed starter Mason Barnett (1-3, 6.16 ERA) will pitch against his former team with first pitch set for 7:40 p.m. ET.

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