ARLINGTON -- Rangers reliever
\n\nA night of @GlobeLifeField firsts! pic.twitter.com/FxmpjpdT53
— Texas Rangers (@Rangers) July 25, 2020
The Rangers had lost three straight on Opening Day, including Chris Woodward’s managerial debut last season. They had also lost six of their last seven Opening Days before winning this one.\n\n“I've never been 1-0,” Woodward said. “I don't know. I'll tell you tomorrow. It feels pretty good right now.”
\n\nLynn, making his first Opening Day start, wanted to set a tone for the rest of the Rangers' rotation -- and he did that, although he had to fight to get through six innings. Lynn allowed two hits and four walks while striking out nine and throwing 108 pitches.\n\n“To be honest with you, the first three innings of the game was probably the most uncomfortable I've ever felt on the mound,” Lynn said. “It was, I don't even know how to explain it. As the game went on, I got better in my opinion. A lot of mis-pitches, just overamped when I was ahead in counts, and then I got myself in walk situations. But when it comes down to it, I didn't give up any runs, so that's what it's all about. I was able to make pitches when I needed to.”
Lynn is the third Rangers pitcher to go at least six scoreless in an Opening Day start. Jon Matlack threw nine scoreless in 1980 (a 1-0 Texas win in 12) and Charlie Hough shut out the Tigers in ‘89. Lynn is also the fourth Rangers pitcher to strike out nine on Opening Day. Nolan Ryan set that Opening Day record for the Rangers in ‘91, and it was tied by Colby Lewis in 2012 and Matt Harrison in '13.\n\n“It's the riding fastball at the top of the zone at just the right height,” Black said. “Lance has a fastball he cuts in to the lefty and mixes in a breaking ball to certain hitters. It's one of those things where you only know how difficult it is against a certain pitcher if you're in the box. From television or from the side, you really can't notice the life on the ball.”\n\nRockies starter Germán Márquez took a no-hitter into the sixth before Santana doubled to left-center with one out. Santana took third on a wild pitch. Márquez struck out
\n\nVeteran right-hander