Houston Astros’ Zach Cole flips away his bat after hitting an RBI single in the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves, Friday, Sept. 12, 2025, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Colin Hubbard)
Houston Astros’ Christian Walker runs to third base in the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves, Friday, Sept. 12, 2025, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Colin Hubbard)
Houston Astros pitcher Jayden Murray (70) delivers in the first inning of a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves, Friday, Sept. 12, 2025, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Colin Hubbard)
Houston Astros’ Jake Meyers hits an RBI single in the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves, Friday, Sept. 12, 2025, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Colin Hubbard)
Astros crush Braves 11-3 as Zach Cole homers in first MLB at-bat
ATLANTA (AP) — Zach Cole hit a home run in his first major league at-bat, Jose Altuve hit his 25th homer of the season and the Houston Astros routed the Atlanta Braves 11-3 on Friday night.
Houston Astros’ Zach Cole flips away his bat after hitting an RBI single in the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves, Friday, Sept. 12, 2025, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Colin Hubbard)
ATLANTA (AP) — Zach Cole hit a home run in his first major league at-bat, Jose Altuve hit his 25th homer of the season and the Houston Astros routed the Atlanta Braves 11-3 on Friday night.
Cole was 3 for 4 with four RBIs after . Christian Walker was 3 for 5 with two RBIs and Jake Meyers was 2 for 3 with 2 RBIs.
Houston used a bullpen game, starting rookie Jayden Murray, who threw three scoreless innings and gave up one hit in his first MLB start and third appearance. AJ Blubaugh (3-1) and Nick threw one scoreless inning apiece before Colton Gordon gave up three runs in the final four innings for his first save.
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The Astros entered the day tied with the Seattle Mariners for first place in the AL West.
Braves rookie Hurston Waldrep (4-1) gave up eight runs on eight hits and his ERA climbed from 1.33 to 2.78. He had only given up six runs in seven appearances prior.
Ronald Acuña Jr. hit his 16th home run in the sixth inning and Eli White hit a pinch-hit two-run homer for the Braves in the eighth.
A six-run fifth inning put the game out of reach for Houston. The Astros scored all six with two outs, with Walker and Mauricio Dubón delivering two-run singles, and Meyers and Cole hitting RBI singles.
Key moment
Cole’s home run in the third inning came on the first pitch he saw, a 93 mph fastball that he hit 423 feet to center field and scored Meyers. It gave the Astros a 2-0 lead.
Key stat
The Astros had scored just eight runs in their previous four games. They had 10 after five innings Friday night.
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Up next
Astros RHP Hunter Brown (11-7, 2.25 ERA) will face Braves RHP Bryce Elder (7-9, 5.35) in the second game of the three-game series.
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