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Texas Rangers: Top 10 Opening Days

By Nathaniel Puente

ARLINGTON, TX - SEPTEMBER 10: Robinson Chirinos #61 of the Texas Rangers is congratulated by third base coach Tony Beasley #27 in the second inning after hitting a home run against the New York Yankees Globe Life Park in Arlington on September 10, 2017 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Rick Yeatts/Getty Images)
ARLINGTON, TX - SEPTEMBER 10: Robinson Chirinos #61 of the Texas Rangers is congratulated by third base coach Tony Beasley #27 in the second inning after hitting a home run against the New York Yankees Globe Life Park in Arlington on September 10, 2017 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Rick Yeatts/Getty Images) /
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SEATTLE, WA – SEPTEMBER 21: Elvis Andrus #1 of the Texas Rangers congratulates Shin-Soo Choo #17 of the Texas Rangers after Choo hit a home run in the seventh inning against the Seattle Mariners at Safeco Field on September 21, 2017 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Lindsey Wasson/Getty Images)
SEATTLE, WA – SEPTEMBER 21: Elvis Andrus #1 of the Texas Rangers congratulates Shin-Soo Choo #17 of the Texas Rangers after Choo hit a home run in the seventh inning against the Seattle Mariners at Safeco Field on September 21, 2017 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Lindsey Wasson/Getty Images) /

8. Opening Day 2011 – vs. Boston Red Sox (W 9-5)

There are few years more sacred to Rangers fans than 2011. It was the year they won a franchise record 96 games and collected their second consecutive AL pennant. The momentum they carried from a big win on opening day supplied the fuel they needed to make their storied run.

The previous year was already thrilling enough. The Texas Rangers had reached their first World Series in 2010 and lost to the San Francisco Giants. The Rangers were looking for the rare feat of consecutive AL championships.

The Rangers took on the Boston Red Sox to open the 2011 regular season. C.J. Wilson got the start for Texas while Jon Lester got it for the Red Sox.

Texas held the advantage after four innings with runs in the first and second and a three-run homer courtesy of Mike Napoli in the fourth.

Boston trailed 5-4 for a few innings before David Ortiz tied it up in the eighth inning with a solo home run.

The bottom of the eighth would feature some late game heroics from the Rangers offense. Mike Napoli would draw a walk and Yorvit Torrealba hit a single before disaster struck for Boston.

David Murphy, Elvis Andrus, and Josh Hamilton would all crush doubles into right field that earned the Rangers three runs in the inning.

Neftali Feliz came in the top of the ninth and finished the Red Sox with two strikeouts and a ground ball. Before Boston knew what hit them, the game was over.

The Rangers would sweep the Red Sox and eventually get off to a 6-0 start.

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