Rick Ankiel hit a three run homer to back up the pitching of Bud Norris in the 2013 major-league opener in Houston and the Astros beat the Texas Rangers 8-2 In their American League debut. Norris pitched 5 2/3 innings scattering five hits and allowing two earned runs.He struck out five and walked two.
Opening-day starter for Texas Matt Harrison pitched 5 2/3 innings allowing six runs, five earned, and struck out nine.
Justin Maxwell had two hits, two runs scored and two RBI for Houston, But it was the blast by Ankiel that broke the game open in the sixth. The Rangers had battled back from a 4-0 deficit to score 2 runs in the top of the inning on RBI singles by David Murphy and Nelson Cruz. Lance Berkman and Crus had two bits each for Texas.
Erik Bedard, Houston’s number five starter, came on in relief of Norris and pitched 3 1/3 innings of one-hit ball to earn the save.
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