The Texas Rangers and Houston Astros were the only teams to start the 2013 Major League Baseball season and the result was rather surprising.
Bud Norris the opening day starter pitched well going 5.2 innings allowing five hits, two runs both earned and struck out five while walking three. Veteran lefty Erik Bedard was even better after taking over in a key moment when the Rangers had the chance to get back into the game.
To open the sixth Texas got a lead off walk by Ian Kinsler, Elvis Andrus then struck out before former Astro Lance Berkman singled putting runners at the corner with one out. Adrian Beltre lined out with both runners staying put there wasn’t a chance for a double play.
David Murphy who was looking to pull a pitch took advantage of the opportunity driving in Kinsler. Nelson Cruz took advantage of seeing three straight sliders and lined a rbi single into left center field. That’s when Bedard got summoned to face A.J. Pierzynski who hit a towering fly ball to center field to end the threat.
Opening day starter Matt Harrison did strike out nine, yet gave up six hits, six runs with five earned, walked three and went 5.2 innings. Justin Maxwell opened the scoring with a two-run triple in the bottom of the fourth and in the bottom of the fifth tacked on two additional runs on an error by Cruz and a rbi single by Jose Altuve.
With a 4-2 lead in the bottom of the sixth pinch hitter Rick Ankiel put the game away with the first home run of the 2013 season, a three-run shot off Derek Lowe. The final scoring came on an rbi single by Matt Dominguez scoring Maxwell.
Norris got the win, Bedard got picked up a 3.1 inning save and Harrison took the loss. It also marks the first win for the Astros since moving from the National League West to the American League West.
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