Astros savor Opening Night victory over Rangers

HOUSTON -- The Astros were off Monday, which gave them another day to bask in the glow of Sunday's 8-2 season-opening win over the Rangers that was their first in the American League and the 4,000th in franchise history.

Rick Ankiel, who came off the bench to hit a three-run home run that broke the game open, said his phone didn't stop ringing or vibrating with text messages.

"Everybody in the baseball world was watching," he said. "Pretty much my whole contact list was [messaging me]. It was fun and I enjoyed it, and I was looking forward to tonight."

Astros pitcher Bud Norris, who threw 5 1/3 innings to earn his first win of the season, had a similar reception from his family and friends.

"I think I had 70, 80 text messages from friends and family and Facebook blew up," Norris said. "It was really, really nice. The people who helped me along my career to get here, my family and my friends, and the support has been outstanding from my teammates and everybody in the clubhouse. It's been a long couple of years, but that one feels special to me."