HOUSTON -- Four games into his Major League career, Zach Cole has become a master of the pick-me-up.

After entering Tuesday night’s game in place of the injured Yordan Alvarez , Cole hit a go-ahead two-run homer and added an RBI single as the Astros defeated the Rangers, 6-3 , in the opener of a three-game series at Daikin Park.

The win, which came in Houston’s first of six home games this week against AL West contenders, moved Houston within a half-game of division leader Seattle . It also put the Astros three games up on the Rangers, who are the team closest to them in their present position as the American League’s No. 3 Wild Card .

Cole, whose MLB debut on Friday included a home run and two other hits in a victory at Atlanta, entered Tuesday’s game after Alvarez sprained h

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