Astros rookie Zach Cole powers 6-3 win over Rangers in place of injured Yordan Alvarez

HOUSTON (AP) — 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 pulled within a half-game of the streaking Seattle Mariners atop the AL West and moved three games ahead of Cleveland and Texas for the final American League wild card.

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.

Texas threatened in the seventh, but Astros left fielder Jesús Sánchez threw out Jonah Heim at the plate on Wyatt Langford's single to end the inning.

Houston increased its lead to 6-3 in the bottom half when Sánchez and Jeremy Peña hit consecutive doubles with two outs, followed by Cole's run-scoring single.

Texas took a 3-2 lead with a three-run fifth that included Josh Jung’s two-run homer and an RBI single by Josh Smith.

Houston starter Jason Alexander permitted three runs, one earned, over 4 2/3 innings. Steven Okert (3-2) got four outs and combined with Jayden Murray, Bryan King and Bryan Abreu to throw 4 1/3 scoreless innings of relief.

Abreu worked the ninth for his sixth save.

Leiter (9-9) allowed six runs — three earned — and five hits in 6 2/3 innings.

Alvarez was injured while scoring from first base on Leiter’s throwing error in the first. Cole entered in right field in the second, and Sánchez shifted from right field to left, where Alvarez had been playing.

Cole is 6 for 13 with two homers and seven RBIs in his first four major league games.

Astros right-hander AJ Blubaugh (3-1, 2.45 ERA) makes his second career start Tuesday night against Rangers RHP Merrill Kelly (12-7, 3.21).

AP MLB: https://www.apnews.com/hub/MLB

Houston Astros right fielder Jesus Sanchez, left, right fielder Zachary Cole (16), and center fielder Jake Meyers, right, celebrate after their win over the Texas Rangers in a baseball game Monday, Sept. 15, 2025, in Houston. (AP Photo/Karen Warren)

Houston Astros' Zachary Cole celebrates at second base after his RBI single off Texas Rangers relief pitcher Jacob Webb during the seventh inning of a baseball game Monday, Sept. 15, 2025, in Houston. (AP Photo/Karen Warren)

Houston Astros' Zachary Cole, right, celebrates with Jeremy Peña, left, after hitting two-run home run off Texas Rangers starting pitcher Jack Leiter during the fifth inning of a baseball game Monday, Sept. 15, 2025, in Houston. (AP Photo/Karen Warren)

Houston Astros' Zachary Cole reacts after hitting a two-run home run off Texas Rangers starting pitcher Jack Leiter during the fifth inning of a baseball game Monday, Sept. 15, 2025, in Houston. (AP Photo/Karen Warren)

Houston Astros' Zachary Cole (16) watches his two-run home run off Texas Rangers starting pitcher Jack Leiter during the fifth inning of a baseball game Monday, Sept. 15, 2025, in Houston. (AP Photo/Karen Warren)

RABAT, Morocco (AP) — Zinedine Zidane watched again and Riyad Mahrez scored again as Algeria reached the last 16 at the Africa Cup of Nations with a 1-0 win over Burkina Faso on Sunday.

The 34-year-old Mahrez took his tally to three goals in two games with a penalty in the 23rd minute. The ball went one way, the goalkeeper the other, and it was enough for the Fennec Foxes to advance to the knockout stage with a maximum six points in Group E.

It came as a relief for the many Algeria fans who had made the relatively short trip to the Moulay El Hassan Stadium in Rabat. The team went out after the group stage in both editions after winning the 2019 title in Egypt.

The spot kick was awarded by referee Daniel Laryea Nii Ayi after Rayan Aït-Nouri tumbled as he was trying to go past Burkinabe defender Ismahila Ouédraogo.

Algeria dominated the ball and the Stallions had more chances without really troubling Zidane’s son Luca in the Algeria goal until he was tested by Lassina Traoré in the 83rd.

Cyriaque Irié might have equalized in stoppage time but his header went straight to the Algeria goalkeeper, who has been given a chance to shine for the country of his grandfather because of a knee injury to Alexandre Oukidja, who would likely have started.

There was a cheer when the big screens showed the senior Zidane, the France great, watching while well wrapped up against the cold. He was also present for Algeria's opening win over Sudan.

Algeria defender Samir Chergui, only recently back from a hamstring problem, had to go off before the hour-mark with what looked like another leg injury.

Burkina Faso stayed second in the group on three points, after its opening win over Equatorial Guinea.

Earlier, Sudan – which is playing despite a brutal war at home – revived its chances of progression with a 1-0 win over Equatorial Guinea in Casablanca.

“Our ambition is to win the title, not just to achieve a single victory,” Sudan coach James Kwesi Appiah said.

Sudan faces Burkina Faso in their final group game on Wednesday with a place in the last 16 at stake. The top two progress from each group, along with the best third-place finishers.

Defending champion Ivory Coast faces five-time winner Cameroon later in Group F, where Mozambique boosted its hopes of progression with a 3-2 win over Gabon.

AP at the Africa Cup: https://apnews.com/hub/africa-cup-of-nations

Algeria's Riyad Karim Mahrez, center, celebrates with his teammates after scoring his side's first goal during the Africa Cup of Nations group E soccer match between Algeria and Burkina Faso in Fez, Morocco, Sunday, Dec. 28, 2025. (AP Photo/Mosa'ab Elshamy)

Algeria's Riyad Karim Mahrez celebrates after scoring his side's first goal during the Africa Cup of Nations group E soccer match between Algeria and Burkina Faso in Fez, Morocco, Sunday, Dec. 28, 2025. (AP Photo/Mosa'ab Elshamy)

Algeria's Riyad Karim Mahrez controls the ball during the Africa Cup of Nations group E soccer match between Algeria and Burkina Faso in Rabat, Morocco, Sunday, Dec. 28, 2025. (AP Photo/Mosa'ab Elshamy)

Algeria's goalkeeper Luca Zidane kicks the ball during the Africa Cup of Nations group E soccer match between Algeria and Burkina Faso in Rabat, Morocco, Sunday, Dec. 28, 2025. (AP Photo/Mosa'ab Elshamy)