Astros rookie Zach Cole powers 6-3 win over Rangers in place of injured Yordan Alvarez

Zach Cole homered and drove in three runs after replacing injured slugger Yordan Alvarez in the lineup, and the Houston Astros beat the Texas Rangers 6-3 on Monday night in the opener of a pivotal three-game series. Houston pulled within a half-game of the streaking Seattle Mariners atop the AL West and moved three games ahead of Cleveland and Texas for the final American League wild card. Cole homered on the first pitch he saw in the majors Friday at Atlanta.