Cole earned the title of ace last season, finishing fourth in the National League Cy Young Award voting. But he had never finished a game he started until Wednesday night. In 87 Major League starts before this, he had recorded exactly one out in the ninth inning. In 44 Minor League starts, he never went the distance.
"I think it's part of the ownership of working your way to be a staff ace or an ace in the league," Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said. "He's got work to do. He's still cutting teeth in some areas. That type of performance is the type of performance you need to put yourself in that position, though.