The top four in the Houston lineup -- George Springer, Jose Altuve, Carlos Correa and Yuli Gurriel -- combined for 11 hits, eight runs and seven RBIs for the Astros, who entered the series with a 28-inning scoreless drought and three losses in their past four games.

Cole has 77 strikeouts in his first seven starts with the Astros, the most for a pitcher in his first seven starts with a new team in big league history, according to Elias. Chris Sale had 73 with Boston last year. Cole struck out the side in the second, third and fourth innings and threw 114 pitches.

Correa had two doubles and drove in three runs, Gurriel had fur hits and drove in three, and Springer had three hits and scored three runs.

Cole has four double-digit strikeout games this season, and he set his previous career high with 14 in a 3-2 victory over Texas on April 13. He struck out the side in the second, third and fourth innings.

Cole retired the first nine and 12 of the first 13, giving up only a walk to David Peralta in the fourth inning until Chris Owings doubled with one out in the fifth.

Arizona right-hander Kris Medlen (0-1) gave up nine hits and seven runs in four innings in his first major league start since May 10, 2016, while with Kansas City. He was recalled from Triple-A Reno after Robbie Ray suffered an oblique strain. Medlen stuck out four and walked four.

Houston took a 2-0 lead in the first inning. Springer singled on the first pitch of the game and advanced on a wild pitch on the second. Altuve doubled to drive in Springer, and Gurriel singled to drove in Altuve.

Springer beat out an infield single and Altuve walked with two outs in the second before Correa doubled into the right field corner for a 4-0 lead.

Springer beat out another infield single in the fourth inning and scored on Correa's two-out double. Gurriel singled in Correa, took second on a wild pitch and scored on Josh Reddick's single. It was 7-0.

Arizona right fielder Jarrod Dyson extended his glove over the right field fence to take a home run away from Jake Marisnick in the fifth inning.

--Field Level Media