Zach Cole shines in Astros 6-3 victory after Alvarez injury
- Zach Cole replaced Yordan Alvarez after Alvarez was injured during the game.
- Cole hit a two-run homer that helped the Astros regain the lead against the Rangers.
- The Astros' win brought them closer to the Seattle Mariners and improved their wild card situation.
In Houston, the Astros faced the Texas Rangers in a pivotal game on Monday night. Zach Cole, a rookie, stepped in to replace Yordan Alvarez after Alvarez sprained his left ankle in the first inning. Cole made an immediate impact by hitting a two-run homer off Rangers' starter Jack Leiter in the fifth inning, which gave the Astros a 4-3 lead. The Astros had initially fallen behind 3-2 after the Rangers scored three runs in the fifth, featuring a two-run homer from Josh Jung and an RBI single from Josh Smith. Throughout the game, Cole not only contributed offensively, driving in three runs, but also showcased his skills defensively. The Astros advanced their lead to 6-3 in the seventh inning with back-to-back doubles from Jesús Sánchez and Jeremy Peña, followed by Cole's run-scoring single. This performance marked Cole's impressive start in the majors, as he became 6-for-13 with two homers and seven RBIs over his first four games. Houston's relief pitching was strong, with Steven Okert and Bryan Abreu combining to throw 4 1/3 scoreless innings, securing the victory. The win positioned the Astros half a game behind the Seattle Mariners in the AL West and helped solidify their lead in the wild card standings, leaving them three games ahead of both Cleveland and Texas.