Texas Rangers Defeat the Houston Astros to Win Game 1 of the Battle for the Silver Boot

The battle for the Silver Boot got underway yesterday on the diamond between the Texas Rangers and the Houston Astros.

The Rangers blew out the Astros in game 1 of their 3 game series, 8-3.

After being on the road for the last 17 of 20 games the Rangers looked more comfortable back in the confines on Rangers Ballpark and the stats reflect that.

Derek Holland was on the mound for the Rangers. Holland pitched 7 1/3^rd innings while giving up 6 hits and 3 runs. The win bumps Holland to 6-2 on the year with a 4.69 ERA.

J.A. Happ got the loss for the Astros; he is now 3-9 with a 5.ee ERA. Happ only went 2 2/3rd innings and gave up 7 runs on 8 hits before being replaced with Aneury Rodriguez who would fair much better. Rodriguez went 4 1/3rd innings and only gave up 2 hits and no runs.

The pitching wasn’t the only thing that got comfortable back in Arlington, so did the hitting and it showed early in the 1^st 3 innings. In the 1^st 3 innings the Rangers built up a 7-0 lead with smart small ball and base running. The Rangers had a total of 12 hits and those hits were lead by Chris Gentry and Adrian Beltre who both went 3 for 4. The scoring was led Josh Hamilton and Beltre who had2 RBI's each.

Manager Ron Washington had this to say about the hitting:

"We were able to relax a little bit. We did a good job against Happ, not chasing too many of his off-speed pitches. When we got pitches to hit, we didn't try to do too much with it." -AP

Ian Kinsler and Taylor Teagarden were the only Rangers not to record a hit.

Texas and Houston play six times in a span of 11 days when both teams have two days off. The Rangers have won 11 of the last 13 in their instate rivalry. After this series the Rangers will host the New York Mets before to Minute Made Park in Houston to complete this regular season series.

The Rangers and Astros will play Game 2 at 7 o’clock.