"Angels hitters have often looked like they were groping in the dark this season.

At least they had company Wednesday afternoon.

With a 4 p.m. start causing problems for batters, the two teams combined for just seven hits and one unearned run. But that run was scored by the Angels as they completed a three-game sweep of the Washington Nationals, 1-0, sending new Nationals manager Davey Johnson out of town winless since returning to the dugout.

The Angels have now won 11 of 15 interleague games this year, extending their record against National League teams to 130-83 since 2000 (the best in baseball). The sweep was their first at home this season and gave them five consecutive series victories (over the Mariners, Mets, Marlins, Dodgers and Nationals).

"It's bad," Angels veteran Bobby Abreu said of fighting the shadows that fall between the pitcher's mound and home plate during the late afternoon games. "The only pitch you can see is the fastball. You can't even see the spin of the ball, not the rotation. It's hard. It's hard to see it, to get a rhythm and see if it's a good pitch."

Most of them were. Dan Haren and Jordan Zimmermann hooked up in a pitcher's duel, accentuated by what Angels manager Mike Scioscia called "vision issues when we start these four o'clock games." Haren retired the first 10 batters in order before Brian Bixler beat out a bunt single and went to second when Angels third baseman Alberto Callaspo threw wildly to first base.

"That's about as far as I'll go with a no-hitter," said Haren who pitched a one-hit shutout against the Indians earlier this season – the one hit also coming with one out in the fourth inning. "I was chewing the same piece of gum, wearing the same undershirt for three innings. And it was pretty hot so I was glad to come up here and change shirts as soon as I gave up that hit."

He stranded Bixler and didn't give up another hit until Ivan Rodriguez dumped a single into center field with one out in the eighth. By then, Haren had thrown 120 pitches and Scioscia went to his bullpen."