Astros' Ankiel hits 1st homer of 2013 MLB season

By foxsports
Published

Rick Ankiel of the Houston Astros has hit the first home run of the 2013 major league baseball season.

Ankiel connected for a pinch-hit three-run homer in the sixth inning Sunday night against the Texas Rangers. The one-time pitcher homered in his first at-bat for the Astros.

The season began with Astros right-hander Bud Norris throwing a called strike to Ian Kinsler at 7:08 p.m. CDT. Kinsler later flied out.

Jose Altuve of the Astros singled for the first hit of the year. Houston hosted the big league opener in its first game as a member of the American League. The Astros shifted over from the National League during the offseason.

There are 12 more games scheduled for Monday.