Joe Saunders is zeroed in

Nearly 48 hours before he was scheduled to compete against the starting pitcher with the most infinitesimal earned-run average in the major leagues, Joe Saunders started to feel the pressure.

And it had nothing to do with Zack Greinke and his 0.40 ERA.

Saunders was the victim of good-natured ribbing from his Angels teammates, who needled the All-Star by saying “Hey, figure it out” and “Let’s go” in the wake of Jered Weaver’s complete game Thursday against the Toronto Blue Jays.

One good turn through the Angels’ rotation apparently deserves another.

Saunders one-upped Weaver, notching his first career shutout Saturday night at Angel Stadium in a 1-0 victory over the Kansas City Royals.

The left-hander pumped his arm and received a warm embrace from catcher Mike Napoli after retiring Billy Butler on a fly ball to center fielder Torii Hunter for the final out of a game that lasted only 2 hours 5 minutes.

“It’s an awesome feeling,” said Saunders, whose teammates doused him with beer after a Houdini-like finish in which he allowed the leadoff batter to reach base in four of the last five innings without surrendering a run. He had six strikeouts and one walk.

The Angels needed the lockdown effort against Greinke (6-1), who lost for the first time this season despite tallying his fourth complete game. All it took to beat the right-hander was a double, a sacrifice bunt and a fly ball.

Gary Matthews Jr. provided the double leading off the third inning when he ripped a curveball over the inner half of the plate to right field. Matthews advanced on Erick Aybar’s sacrifice and scored on Chone Figgins’ fly ball, giving the Angels a slim lead in a game whose significance seemed to belie the calendar.

“Tonight we kind of got a taste of October in May,” Matthews said. “Playoff ball.”

The run ended Greinke’s scoreless streak at 15 2/3 innings and was the first run he had given up on the road after opening the season with 17 2/3 consecutive shutout innings.

Greinke struck out five Angels, did not walk a batter and found a new admirer in Saunders.

“I watched every pitch,” Saunders said. “He was filthy.”

Saunders (5-1) was equally nasty, especially late in the game. He allowed leadoff hitters to reach base in the fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth innings but never became flustered, even when a throwing error by shortstop Aybar allowed Willie Bloomquist to reach base leading off the eighth inning.

Miquel Olivo then ripped a single past third baseman Figgins, putting two runners on base with none out, and both moved up on Mike Aviles’ sacrifice. But Figgins came up with two nice plays to help Saunders escape the inning unscathed.

After fielding Coco Crisp’s grounder, Figgins tagged Olivo charging toward third base for the second out. Figgins then made a dazzling backhanded stop near the third base line on David DeJesus’ sharp grounder and a strong throw to first baseman Kendry Morales for the final out.

“That was the play of the game,” Saunders said.

The Royals also had a two-on, no-out threat in the fifth inning that Saunders quashed by retiring the next three batters in order.

“The only way to beat good pitching is to match it pitch for pitch,” Angels Manager Mike Scioscia said.

With John Lackey, Ervin Santana and Kelvim Escobar on the disabled list, the Angels (15-14), who are over .500 for the first time since opening day, figured to be short on quality starting pitching.

But Weaver and Saunders are providing some sturdy fabric for this patchwork rotation.

“For him to do something like that against someone like that, it was special,” Weaver said. “It was fun to watch.”

Said Saunders of his teammate: “He set the tone. I kind of fed off what he did the other night.”

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ben.bolch@latimes.com

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ANGELS TODAY

VS. KANSAS CITY

Time: 12:30 p.m.

Where: Angel Stadium.

On the air: TV: Channel 13; Radio: 830, 1330.

Probable pitchers: Shane Loux vs. Kyle Davies.

Update: With Ervin Santana and John Lackey on the verge of returning from minor league rehabilitation assignments, Loux appears to be competing with Matt Palmer for the final spot in the Angels’ starting rotation. Loux has pitched impressively in four of five starts and has won his last two outings, including a 5-3 victory over the Oakland Athletics on Tuesday in which he gave up five hits and one run in seven innings. Davies did not receive a decision Tuesday in Kansas City’s 8-7 victory over the Chicago White Sox after giving up eight hits and six runs in four innings.

-- Ben Bolch