Cole a winner in Curve debut

photo by Grant Jefferies

A new league, a new level and a new uniform did little to dim Gerrit Cole's first season of professional baseball.
Cole pitched the Altoona Curve to a 9-4 win over the New Britian Rock Cats on Wednesday in his first start woih the Pirates' Double-A affiliate. Cole began the season with Marauders before he was promoted earlier this month.
The first overall pick of the 2011 draft, Cole allowed two earned runs on five hits in five innings, striking out six and not issuing a walk. A pair of former Marauders helped him out - Robbie Grossman and Quincy Latimore hit three-run home runs.
Cole went 5-1 with a 2.55 ERA in 13 starts with the Marauders.