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HOUSTON – Less than two weeks ago, Jack Mayfield flew to Boston because the Houston Astros had announced that he was going to make his Major league debut after seven seasons in the minors.
When he arrived, they did not need him after an injury to Aledmys Diaz was not so bad. He had to board a plane and return directly to Triple-A.
The non-traded free agent received a new call Sunday night, and Monday after more than 600 matches and 2,500 plate matches in the minor matches, Mayfield made his debut in the major circuit, getting a sure shot and allowing in Houston to score 6-5 win over the Chicago Cubs.
"It just delayed my start," said Mayfield of his visit to Boston. "But everything is going for a reason and I have to do it here in Houston, so it was still special."
Manager AJ Hinch smiled when he was told about Mayfield's performance on Monday.
"It's a long trip for these guys and you have to tell their story, because it's unlikely and they never thought they had the opportunity," he said. "We just teased it last week with almost an opportunity, and I can only imagine the emotions that someone (crosses)".
Gerrit Cole tied a season record with 12 strikeouts in six solid runs, and the Astros reached Cole Hamels early and held on for victory in the first game of the series.
Anthony Rizzo scored a two-run homer in the first run, but Cole (5-5) dominated afterwards, allowing two singles and scoring 10 in the next five rounds.
Playing without injured stars Jose Altuve and George Springer, and Carlos Correa, who had a day off, the Astros reduced the deficit to one in the second and scored Hamels five times (4-1) in the third for take a 6-2 drive.
Yuli Gurriel had three hits and a run scored, and Derek Fisher and Alex Bregman added two shots each as the Astros won their third victory in four games.
Hamels, who had allowed just six points in his last three starts, had seven hits and a six-point record in four innings for his first loss.
The Astros sent eight to the plate as they built their lead in the third. Bregman was singing before Michael Brantley walked. Houston drew when Bregman scored on a Gurriel single. A brace from Robinson Chirinos scored Brantley.
Mayfield's RBI hit a 4-2 record before Tyler White worked. Chirinos and White both advanced on a Hamels wild pitch, which led the pitcher to call receiver Willson Contreras to the mound to discuss.
But a Fisher single scoring points came next and Jake Marisnick pushed the lead to 6-2 with a steal for RBI.
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