Josh Hamilton confident he can regain All-Star form with Rangers

ARLINGTON, Texas -- Josh Hamilton spent Thursday morning playing with his four daughters before driving to Globe Life Park, where he played his first home game as a member of the Texas Rangers since 2012.

A few fans were waiting for autographs as he arrived at the ballpark. Life, he said, is good.

And on Thursday night it got a little bit better.

Despite entering the game hitting .091, Hamilton received a loud ovation and went 2-for-4 with a double and drove in the Rangers' lone run in a 5-1 loss to theRed Sox.

Prior to the game, Hamilton expressed confidence he'd be able to produce the same numbers that made him a star.

"What player isn't going to have confidence that he can do what he's always done? When that happens, you need to retire," Hamilton said. "When you don't get nervous before you go play, or before your first at-bat or when you're in the field for the first time, you don't need to do it.

"I still have all of those things, so yeah, I think I can do what I've done in the past."

Playing for the Rangers gives him a chance to do that.

In his nine-year career, Hamilton clearly had his best moments during his five seasons as a member of the Rangers, whom he led to the World Series in 2010 and 2011.

He signed a five-year, $125 million deal with the Los Angeles Angels and struggled in two seasons there. He had shoulder surgery in early February and a relapse in his sobriety at the end of that month, leading the Angels to trade him to the Rangers last month for cash considerations.

The last time he played in this stadium for the Rangers, fans booed him loudly after he struck out in a wild-card game against the Baltimore Orioles.

With Double-A Frisco and Triple-A Round Rock, Hamilton spent considerable time signing autographs and trying to rebuild his relationship with the fan base.

"I've always enjoyed spending time with the fans," he said, "because if they weren't buying tickets, we wouldn't have a job."