Matt Harrison struck out 9 in 5.2 (100 pitches) but a 3 run, pinch hit homerun by Rick Ankiel provided the insurance runs as the Houston Astros won their first win as an American League franchise, beating the Texas Rangers 8-2 at Minute Maid Park. Bud Norris was solid through 5.2 innings of work, allowing 2 runs on 5 hits, with 5 strikeouts. The star of the game was Justin Maxwell. Maxwell was 2-4, with both hits being triples, scoring twice and driving in 2 runs. Not a bad statiscal line offensively. The 29 year old Maxwell also made two highlight reel catches, including a sneaky trapped ball on Elvis Andrus. Jose Altuve looked solid at the top of the Astros lineup, going 2-4. Harrison looked sharp to begin the game but looked tired towards the end of his start. Ankiel took advantage of a bad pitch and hammered the ball into the stands for his first homer of the season. Eric Bedard came in relief in the middle of the 5th and finished the game. The Rangers offense couldn’t seem to score runs even with baserunners in scoring position and things didn’t look good early in the game when the umpires called David Murphy out on a base that was shown to be stolen in replays.
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