Gerrit Cole pitched the worst game of his career last night, allowing nine runs, eight earned, in 4.1 innings pitched. The most he had allowed previously was seven in 5 innings, pitched while he was with Pittsburgh. Cole allowed more runs in the first inning alone, 5, than he had allowed in any game previously as an Astro.
The Rangers had already won this game by the first inning, but a little luck and a misplay aided their effort. The first batter, Shin-Soo Choo, doubled on a line drive to right field. The ball skirted off the edge of second baseman Jose Altuve’s glove, slightly deflecting what looked like a routine single into a double into the corner.