PITTSBURGH, June 11 (UPI) -- Heralded rookie Gerrit Cole earned a win and drove in a pair of runs in his major league debut Tuesday, lifting the Pittsburgh Pirates over San Francisco 8-2.
Cole (1-0), taken first overall by the Pirates in 2011 draft, was called up from Class AAA Indianapolis before the game and responded with 6 1/3 solid innings. The 22-year-old right-hander yielded two runs on seven hits, didn't issue a walk and struck out two.
He also delivered at the plate, stroking a two-run single in his first big-league at-bat in the second inning to give Pittsburgh a 2-0 lead.
Pedro Alvarez went 3-for-3 with a two-run homer, three RBI and two runs scored while Starling Marte added a solo shot as the Bucs took the first of a three-game series.
Giants starter Tim Lincecum (4-6) was touched for four runs (two earned) on seven hits in a 4 2/3-inning effort.
Brett Pill and Tony Abreu each provided an RBI for San Francisco.
