HOUSTON - Rick Ankiel and the Houston Astros made an impressive debut in the American League, trouncing the Texas Rangers 8-2 Sunday night and giving Bo Porter a victory in his first game as manager.
Ankiel launched a pinch hit three-run shot for the first home run of the season, Bud Norris pitched well for the victory and Erik Bedard threw 3 1/3 scoreless innings for his first career save.
Having switched from the National League to the AL in the off season, the Astros earned their first opening day victory since 2006 and the 4,000th regular-season win in franchise history.
The Astros are coming off consecutive 100-loss seasons and has the lowest payroll in the majors, prompting many to predict they will be the worst team in the majors. But Houston opened in style wearing spiffy new uniforms that brought back the orange and blue of old-school Astros teams.
Justin Maxwell added a pair of triples and made a nice catch in center field.
Norris (1-0) allowed five hits and two runs with five strikeouts in 52/ 3 innings. He was one of five Astros making their first opening day start on baseball’s second-youngest team.
Bedard shut down the Rangers on one hit the rest of the way for his first save in a 10-season career.
As Houston began a new era with the move to the AL, the Rangers were beginning a new chapter without 2010 AL MVP Josh Hamilton.
Today’s pitching probables
AMERICAN LEAGUE All times Central
Boston (Lester 0-0) at NY Yankees (Sabathia 0-0), 12:05 p.m.
Detroit (Verlander 0-0) at Minnesota (Worley 0-0), 3:10 p.m.
Kansas City (Shields 0-0) at Chicago White Sox (Sale 0-0), 3:10 p.m.
Seattle (Hernandez 0-0) at Oakland (Anderson 0-0), 9:05 p.m.
NATIONAL LEAGUE
Miami (Nolasco 0-0) at Washington (Strasburg 0-0), 12:05 p.m.
San Diego (Volquez 0-0) at NY Mets
(Niese 0-0), 12:10 p.m.
Chicago Cubs (Samardzija 0-0) at
Pittsburgh (Burnett 0-0), 12:35 p.m.
Colorado (Chacin 0-0) at Milwaukee
(Gallardo 0-0), 1:10 p.m.
San Francisco (Cain 0-0) at L.A.
Dodgers (Kershaw 0-0), 3:10 p.m.
Philadelphia (Hamels 0-0) at Atlanta
(Hudson 0-0), 6:05 p.m.
St. Louis (Wainwright 0-0) at Arizona
(Kennedy 0-0), 9:05 p.m.
INTERLEAGUE
LA Angels (Weaver 0-0) at Cincinnati
(Cueto 0-0), 3:10 p.m.
Today’s games All times Central
AMERICAN LEAGUE
Boston at NY Yankees, 12:05 p.m.
Detroit at Minnesota, 3:10 p.m.
Kansas City at Chi. White Sox, 3:10 p.m.
Seattle at Oakland, 9:05 p.m.
NATIONAL LEAGUE
Miami at Washington, 12:05 p.m.
San Diego at NY Mets, 12:10 p.m.
Chi. Cubs at Pittsburgh, 12:35 p.m.
Colorado at Milwaukee, 1:10 p.m.
LA Angels at Cincinnati, 3:10 p.m.
San Fran. at LA Dodgers, 3:10 p.m.
Philadelphia at Atlanta, 6:05 p.m.
St. Louis at Arizona, 9:05 p.m.
INTERLEAGUE
LA Angels at Cincinnati, 3:10 p.m.
Sports, Pages 13 on 04/01/2013