ARLINGTON, Texas - Josh Hamilton heard the boos from Texas Rangers fans.
If someone says there was a mix of cheers the first time the Los Angeles Angels slugger stepped into the batter’s box against his former team, he’s not buying it.
“Where were you sitting at?” Hamilton shot back with a smile after the Angels lost to the Rangers 3-2 in his return to Texas on Friday.
“Yeah, when I was on deck, three little kids were like, ‘Hey Josh! We miss you!’ and I was like, ‘Hey guys. Good to see ya.’ One little guy was yelling me at me, he was like, ‘Hey, hey, hey!’ And finally I turned around and he was like, ‘Hey, your pocket’s out.’ And I was like, ‘Hey, man, thanks.’ ”
Otherwise, Hamilton said he felt the same way he did five years ago when Yankee Stadium crowds chanted “Josh smokes crack” at the former No. 1 pick for Tampa Bay whose career was derailed by alcohol and drug abuse. This from the supposedly tamer fans in Texas.
“I got worn out as good today as I had anywhere else,” the five-time All-Star and 2010 AL MVP said. “The booing was a little louder. It probably hurt a little more to know that people would turn that quickly.”
Hamilton also just missed on a throw from right field that could have kept the game tied at 2-2 in the eighth inning.
Instead, Craig Gentry (Fort Smith, Arkansas Razorbacks) slid home with the go-ahead run on a single by Ian Kinsler while Hamilton’s throw skipped past catcher Chris Iannetta.
TIGERS 8, YANKEES 3 Prince Fielder hit a go-ahead, three-run home run in the fifth inning and added a two-run shot in the seventh to lift host Detroit over New York. Drew Smyly (Little Rock Central, Arkansas Razorbacks) struck out five in four innings for his first career save.
ORIOLES 9, TWINS 5 Chris Davis extended his torrid start with a grand slam and five RBI, and Baltimore used a five-run eighth inning to beat Minnesota in the Orioles’ home opener.
RAYS 4, INDIANS 0 Matt Moore (1-0) pitched six shutout innings and Ben Zobrist drove in three runs to lead host Tampa Bay over Cleveland.
RED SOX 6, BLUE JAYS 4 Mike Napoli hit a two-run home run and drove in the go-ahead run in the eighth inning, and Boston won in Manager John Farrell’s return to Toronto.
MARINERS 8, WHITE SOX 7 Kendrys Morales hit a tie breaking double in the 10th inning and Jesus Montero tacked on a run-scoring single, leading Seattle past host Chicago.
ATHLETICS 8, ASTROS 3 Coco Crisp hit a leadoff home run and added two doubles as Oakland beat host Houston.
National League GIANTS 1, CARDINALS O Host San Francisco won its 15th consecutive game with Barry Zito on the mound with a shutout of St. Louis. Zito hasn’t lost since Aug. 2 against the New York Mets.
ROCKIES 5, PADRES 2 Wilin Rosario and Dexter Fowler homered, helping Jeff Francis and host Colorado beat San Diego.
REDS 15, NATIONALS 0 Todd Frazier and Zack Cozart each hit two of host Cincinnati’s six home runs as the Reds sent Washington to its first loss of the season.
BRAVES 4, CUBS 1 Justin Upton hit his third home run in four games and Mike Minor (1-0) pitched into the eighth inning to help host Atlanta beat Chicago.
MARLINS 7, METS 5 Alex Sanabia (1-0) won for the first time in more than two years and Miami gave Mike Redmond his first victory as a major league manager by beating host New York. DIAMONDBACKS 3, BREWERS 1 Wade Miley (1-0) and Kyle Lohse were locked in a pitching duel through six innings before Arizona spoiled Lohse’s debut with host Milwaukee by scoring two runs on a wild pitch from reliever Michael Gonzalez in the seventh.
Interleague ROYALS 13, PHILLIES 4 Alex Gordon and Chris Getz each hit bases-loaded triples and Kansas City rallied to beat Philadelphia, spoiling the Phillies’ home opener.
Friday’s games
NATIONAL LEAGUE
Colorado 5, San Diego 2 San Francisco 1, St. Louis 0 Miami 7, NY Mets 5 Cincinnati 15, Washington 0 Atlanta 4, Chicago Cubs 1 Arizona 3, Milwaukee 1 Pittsburgh at LA Dodgers, (n)
AMERICAN LEAGUE
Detroit 8, NY Yankees 3 Texas 3, LA Angels 2 Baltimore 9, Minnesota 5 Boston 6, Toronto 4 Tampa Bay 4, Cleveland 0 Oakland 8, Houston 3 Seattle 8, Chicago White Sox 7 (10)
INTERLEAGUE
Kansas City 13, Philadelphia 4
Sports, Pages 22 on 04/06/2013