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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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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) /

6. Opening Day 1989 – vs. Detroit Tigers (W 4-0)

Something long forgotten in Texas is pitching dominance. The 1989 Texas Rangers saw that on opening day.

1980s Texas Rangers teams continuously finished with underachieving and forgettable seasons. Dynamics of the team quickly changed when they signed Nolan Ryan in 1989.

Despite his All-Star capabilities, Ryan was not named the opening day starter. Instead, Charlie Hough got the nod.

The Rangers hosted the Detroit Tigers to open the year on April 4, 1989. Detroit came off a 1988 season that saw them finish a solid second in the AL East. 1989 would not be so lucky for the Tigers as they would finish an atrocious 59-103.

Texas grabbed the only two runs they would eventually need in the third inning when Scott Fletcher grounded an RBI double that scored two runs.

Rafael Palmiero added another run in the fifth with a double before Fletcher hit another RBI single in the seventh.

Charlie Hough completed an amazing day on the mound by shutting out the Tigers in his nine innings of work. He only allowed five hits and notched five strikeouts.

Hough put in a decent effort in 1989 but Nolan Ryan overshadowed him with an All-Star season.

Like Hough, the Rangers were able to put in a decent year but their 83-79 record would only secure them a fourth-place finish in the AL West.

The Rangers would sweep the Tigers to start the year and get off to an impressive 10-1 start.

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