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 Astros 6, Texas Rangers 3: Box score | Standings
Houston (82-69) pulled within a half-game of the streaking Seattle Mariners (82-68) atop the AL West and moved three games ahead of Cleveland and Texas for the final American League wild card.
The Rangers (79-72) fell to 3 1/2 back of the Mariners in the division.
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Cole homered on the first pitch he saw in the majors Friday at Atlanta. This time, he entered after Alvarez sprained his left ankle in the first inning and launched a two-run shot off starter Jack Leiter that gave the Astros a 4-3 lead in the fifth.
Zach Cole DEMOLISHES a go-ahead HR in his first game at Daikin Park! pic.twitter.com/2cxN6EIM1c
— MLB (@MLB) September 16, 2025
After scoring from first base on a throwing error by Leiter on Carlos Correa’s infield single in the first inning, Alvarez was tended to by a trainer outside the Astros’ dugout and then helped down the steps.
The team announced the injury a couple of innings after Alvarez left the game.
Alvarez entered Monday’s game batting .273 with six home runs and 27 RBIs, but has been limited to 47 games due to a fractured right hand that forced him to miss 101 games.
The Astros and Rangers will play the second game of their three-game series Tuesday.
Seattle Sports staff made additions and alterations to this post.
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