Dein erstes Forum » a big club.Our targets were set at the start of the se

HOUSTON -- Tyler Skaggss Angels debut could not have gone much better. The left-hander threw eight strong innings and Josh Hamilton hit a two-run home run as the Los Angeles Angels beat the Houston Astros 5-1 on Saturday night. Skaggs (1-0) allowed one run - none earned - on four hits with five strikeouts. Skaggs was acquired in the off-season from Arizona in a trade that sent outfielder Mark Trumbo to the Diamondbacks. "I was excited for my first game with the Angels," Skaggs said. "I have pitched in the big leagues before. I took that mindset that I have been here before. The team needs to get in the win column again. A lot of different things to stay relaxed out there." Skaggs became one of just 13 pitchers in Angels history to go at least eight innings while allowing no earned runs in first start for the team and the first since Shawn Broskie on May 1, 1995, at Toronto. Skaggs, who posted a 2-3 record with 5.12 ERA with the Diamondbacks last year, said he threw a two-seam fastball Saturday night - a pitch he had not thrown in spring training. "The thing is that I havent thrown the two-seamer at all, and today, I broke it out," Skaggs said. "I threw it 90 per cent of the time. Thats why you saw all those 90-91 instead of 93-94. They kept swinging at it, so why not continue to throw it and get outs early in the count?" Skaggs said the changeup and curveball were also good and everything was clicking. Angels manager Mike Scioscia said all of Skaggs pitches were working but it started with his ability to command the fastball. "He had a great two-seamer going and once he was able to get that into spots everything else opened up for him." Scioscia said. "He threw some terrific change-ups, some really good curveballs. Theyve got some right-handed hitters that are really strong hitters and youve got to make some pitches to them. He did and got through it well." Hamilton followed David Freeses run-scoring single with his second homer in as many days, extending the lead to 4-1 in the fifth off Dallas Keuchel. Hamilton had three hits and is now hitting .352 against the Astros with 16 home runs and 41 RBI. "I dont think its necessarily the team," Hamilton said. "I love playing at this park. Before it was a rivalry thing - Texas and Houston. Maybe that helped a little bit. I cant pinpoint one thing." Keuchel (0-1) allowed four runs on eight hits with five strikeouts over five innings. "If youre not on your A-game every pitch, thats what happens," Keuchel said. "I think that kind of took the wind out of our sails in the fifth." Kole Calhoun extended the lead to 5-1 on a run-scoring single in the eighth off Chad Qualls. Houston, which dropped its third straight, opened a 1-0 lead as Jose Altuve scored on an error by third baseman John McDonald in the first, but that lead quickly vanished as Howie Kendrick knotted the score at one with a run-scoring double in the second. Houston manager Bo Porter said the Astros need to get things going offensively after being outscored 16-2 in the first two games of the series. "He really had his breaking ball going, but at the same time, I think we helped him a little bit by expanding our strike zone," Porter said of Skaggs. "He took advantage of it. Offensively, definitely need to get things going and score some runs." Notes: Houston outfielder Dexter Fowler missed his second straight game Saturday after spending Friday night at Methodist Hospital due to a stomach virus. He was released from the hospital Saturday night and could play Sunday, Porter said postgame. . Astros catcher Jason Castro was out of the lineup for the second consecutive game Saturday with a bruised right foot. . Lance Berkman and Roy Oswalt signed one-day contracts before the game and officially retired as Astros. . The Astros outrighted right-handed pitcher Chia-Jen Lo off the 40-man roster. He cleared waivers Saturday and will remain with Triple A Oklahoma City. . Houston will send right-handed pitcher Scott Feldman (0-1) to the mound Sunday as the Angels will counter with right-hander Jered Weaver (0-1). JK Scott Packers Jersey . -- Wide receiver Sidney Rice should be fully recovered from a torn knee ligament by the time the Seattle Seahawks start defence of their Super Bowl title, general manager John Schneider said Wednesday. DeShone Kizer Packers Jersey . The team let Keaton Ellerby, James Wright and Matt Halischuk become unrestricted free agents after declining to make them qualifying offers. Ellerby, 25, appeared in 51 games for the Jets last season and had two goals and four assists. http://www.packersrookiestore.com/Packers-Oren-Burks-Jersey/ .3 million qualifying offer to outfielder Michael Cuddyer on Monday. Tramon Williams Packers Jersey .com) - Jimmie Johnson won Sundays AAA Texas 500 while championship contenders Jeff Gordon and Brad Keselowski as well as their teams were involved in a post-race fight on pit road after the two clashed in the closing laps at Texas Motor Speedway. Marquez Valdes-Scantling Packers Jersey . - The Clippers have signed guard Dahntay Jones to a second 10-day contract.Rangers defender Dominic Ball has had to disappoint his friends ahead of his Old Firm debut after admitting he could not get them tickets. The on-loan Tottenham youngster is looking forward to his first taste of Glasgow derby action when Mark Warburtons side face Celtic in Sundays Scottish Cup semi-final at Hampden Park, live on Sky Sports. Former Celtic manager Neil Lennon explains his infamous bust up with ex Rangers boss Ally McCoist at the Old Firm derby The 20-year-old has already helped the Light Blues win the Scottish Championship, as well as claiming silverware in the Petrofac Training Cup final with a 4-0 win over Peterhead.But Ball has been unable to accommodate all those eager to attend the Old Firm contest, such has been the demand for tickets.Sunday is probably going to be the biggest game of the season - the biggest game of my life - so I am going to relish it and go out and do a job, he said. As soon as the draw was made I had 40 or 50 people asking me for tickets. I had to say I would see what I could do but my family comes first and I couldnt promise them anything.Everyone wants special people around them to be there and for me that is my family, my girlfriend, my close friends. I think I will have enough to satisfy those needs but not everybody.Rangers boss Mark Warburton looks set to hand Ball the responsibility of anchoring Gers midfield in the hope he can curb Celtics threat from deep. Former Rangers player and manager Graeme Souness explains why the Old Firm derby against Celtic is the most intense fixture inn world football Patrick Roberts will be one of the Hoops players he will have to keep an eye out for, with the on-loan Manchester City entertainer having made a big impression in recent weeks.ddddddddddddI have seen little bits of Celtic this season when they are on and we are not playing and I think we have a real good chance, he added.I think Ive played against Patrick Roberts in a reserve game when he was back at Manchester City. He is a very good player but we have got very good players as well, so we will see. Former Rangers captain David Weir looks back on his memories of his Old Firm derby against Celtic I have seen them have good games, I have seen them have bad games, so I guess whatever team up turns up or not on the day will be the team that wins.Spurs trainee Ball also feels Celtic will push Rangers in ways they have not experienced on their way to the second-tier crown title this season.I just think it is that intensity, that constant pressure they will bring, added the 20-year-old.Sometimes it gets to 70 minutes at 0-0 and we know we are going to win because the other team is going to drop off.But I think that is going to be different, they will be as fit as us and it is going to be the challenge of quality now.Ball may not have experienced the white-hot heat of an OId Firm scrap before but he knows the importance of keeping emotion in check as Gers bid to land a trophy treble. Souness: Celtic big favourites Graeme Souness believes Celtic are favourites to beat Rangers in the Scottish Cup semi-final It is important to deal with our emotions individually and as a team, he said. You dont want anyone sent off. We just want to go out and play our football, get our job done and win.I won two medals in the space of five days last week and that is why I came to Rangers. It is a big club.Our targets were set at the start of the season and to now have two trophies too is brilliant. But we want a third.Watch Rangers v Celtic on Sunday. Coverage begins on Sky Sports 2 HD at 11am. Also See: Warburton: Derby just the start Forrester misses Old Firm clash Vote: Celtic, Rangers greatest Rangers fixtures Wholesale Hoodies NFL Shirts Outlet Jerseys NFL Wholesale Cheap NFL Jerseys Free Shipping Wholesale Jerseys Cheap Cheap NFL Jerseys China Wholesale Jerseys Wholesale NFL Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys China Cheap NFL Jerseys ' ' '