ATLANTA (AP) — It took Zach Cole one inning and one pitch to make an impact in the major leagues.
Cole made a leaping catch up against the left field wall in his first inning, and hit a two-run homer on the first pitch he saw in the third during the Houston Astros’ 11-3 win over the Atlanta Braves on Friday night.
“The guys were actually asking me, ‘Where were you keeping this guy from us?‘” Astros manager Joe Espada said. “We brought him up at the right time. Right now is when we need him. The guys really got excited. It really sparked our club.”
Cole went 3 for 4 with 4 RBIs. His home run came off rookie Hurston Waldrep, who entered the game with a 1.33 ERA in seven games. Cole hit a 93 mph fastball 423 feet to center field, knocking in Jake Meyers.
He became the fifth Astro to hom