ARLINGTON, Texas -- Matt Garza wants to make the Texas Rangers proud that they long coveted having him in their rotation. The big right-hander made quite an impression when he finally pitched in a Texas uniform. "Same thing Ive always saw when he pitched against us," manager Ron Washington said. "The guy can execute pitches. He never gets rattled." Garza pitched into the eighth inning of his Rangers debut, two days after getting traded from the Chicago Cubs. The only run he allowed was unearned after his throwing error in a 3-1 victory over the New York Yankees on Wednesday night. "Im excited. I couldnt be more happy being in a place where Im at, a place where Im wanted, been wanted. Its awesome," Garza said. "I felt good. I just wanted to throw strikes." Garza (1-0) was 6-1 in his 11 starts this season for the Cubs. He was 5-0 with a 1.24 ERA his last six starts for Chicago, winning the last five. After giving up consecutive singles to start his first game in a Rangers jersey, Garza retired 15 of the next 16 batters before his throwing error on Brett Gardners comebacker leading off the sixth. He finished with five strikeouts and no walks, throwing 66 of 95 pitches for strikes. "Pounded the zone with vengeance," Washington said. "He was as advertised," said David Murphy, who homered for Texas. "Weve seen him do it before. It was impressive to see him attack the zone like that." A.J. Pierzynski drove in two runs for Texas, including a tiebreaking solo homer in the bottom of the sixth off Andy Pettitte (7-8). The Rangers were interested in Garza when Tampa Bay traded him to Chicago after the 2010 season. They also inquired about him last summer before he missed the last two months with a stress reaction in his right elbow. He missed the first seven weeks this season because of a strained left lat muscle. "Hes got good stuff. He has a very good fastball and slider. We hit some balls hard, but right at them," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. "He gave up hits to the first two batters and got out of the inning, and he kind of got on a roll after that." Gardners comebacker leading off the sixth rolled away from Garza even though the pitcher was able to get a glove on it. He scrambled to grab the ball, but threw awkwardly off his knee well wide of first base. The speedy Gardner was credited with an infield single and got to third on the errant throw. Garza then snagged Ichiro Suzukis comebacker for an out before Robinson Cano lined a single over second baseman Ian Kinslers head to tie the game at 1. Walking off the mound after the inning, Garza was clearly frustrated at himself. He already felt better soon after that, pumping his arms in the air and slapping his hands together when Pierzynski hit his 10th homer. "Its just I kept turning. I didnt stop myself from sliding, thats why I didnt let the ball go too well. ... Caught me off guard, its one of those things " Garza said. "But I made sure I got the next guy out and so close to not letting them score. Thats what I was a little (mad) about." Neal Cotts retired all four batters he faced before Joe Nathan got the final out for his 32nd save in 34 chances. The All-Star closer rebounded from the previous night when he gave up two runs in the ninth of a 5-4 loss to the Yankees. Pettitte allowed eight hits and two runs while pitching into the seventh. The 41-year-old left-hander struck out two and walked one. "Pierzynski killed him. He usually handles lefties well. He left a slider down but kind of in the middle of the plate, and he hit it out," Girardi said. "We just need to get (Pettitte) some runs." The Rangers quickly led 1-0 after Ian Kinsler had a leadoff single, went to second on a sacrifice bunt by Elvis Andrus and scored on a single by Pierzynski. It was the second time in three games this series they scored a run in the first inning, after 10 consecutive games without a run in the initial frame. NOTES: Even with the victory for the Rangers, it was the 27th day in a row they failed to gain ground in the AL West since Oakland won 4-3 at Houston earlier Wednesday. The Rangers have gone from a half-game lead to three games back in that span. ... Rangers opening day starter Matt Harrison threw live BP, facing hitters for the first time since April. The lefty has been on the DL and had two back surgeries since his last start April 6. Harrison says he felt good and is expected to throw BP again Saturday in Cleveland. ... Yankees OF Curtis Granderson (broken pinkie) said he will start a minor league rehab assignment Thursday night with Class A Tampa and will evaluated at the end of the weekend. Deion Sanders Youth Jersey . Westbrook has missed 27 games since having a procedure on Dec. 27 to deal with swelling in his injured right knee — the third operation on the knee in nine months. Calvin Ridley Youth Jersey .Y. -- Jayna Hefford scored the winning goal Friday as Canada survived a scare with a 4-3 win over Sweden at the Four Nations womens hockey tournament. http://www.falconsrookiestore.com/Falcons-Qadree-Ollison-Jersey/ . Pert has formerly spent time as an assistant coach with Cardiff City, Coventry City, and Bahrain mens national team. "Martyn is a highly-respected coach with experience at the top levels in England," said Whitecaps FC head coach Carl Robinson. Brett Favre Falcons Jersey . JOHNS, N. Brett Favre Youth Jersey . Perez, 35, posted a 1-2 record with a 3.69 earned-run average in 19 relief appearances last season. His season ended Aug. 9 due to a torn ligament in his left elbow. Perez joins infielder Andy LaRoche and catcher Mike Nickeas with minor-league agreements for 2014 that include invitations to attend spring training. Riot Games associate esports manager of league operations Hunter Hebble Leigh will step down from his role tomorrow after taking a job at Yahoos esports division.Tomorrow, Friday the 22nd, will be my last day at Riot. This has been an amazing adventure, and I am very sad to leave. I have the opportunity to go home to my family, after 18 months of long distance, and will be leaving to take a position at Yahoo Esports, he said.Leigh replaced former esports manager of league operations Nick Allen, who left the Riot Games team in July 2015 to take a job with streaming service, Twitch.dddddddddddd Since then, Leigh has been involved with many decisions in competitive League of Legends, including the recent permanent ban of Renegades, Team Impulse, and Team Dragon Knights.While his role at Yahoo remains unclear, he has stated that he will continue working on the business side of esports. Ill be attending events and will be working with Riot regularly, said Leigh.Who Riot will hire in Leighs place is currently uncertain. ' ' '