Astros Receive Unexpected Spark From Julks

The Houston Astros won their first series of the season thanks to an unexpected source.

Enter Corey Julks.

Julks hit a solo home run to left field in the fourth inning and finished 2-for-5 with a double and a stellar defensive play in a 7-0 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Wednesday.

Julks, 27, blasted the homer off 43-year-old Rich Hill.

"It felt great,” Julks told reporters. “I was just trying to get that nice pitch to hit, nice pitch to swing at and execute it, and yeah, it felt amazing.”

Julks, the Astros’ No. 29-ranked prospect, hit 31 home runs for Triple-A Sugar Land last season and then made a huge impression at spring training.

Despite the Astros’ struggles as a whole, Julks has produced at least one hit in seven of his eight starts for a respectable .294 average.

“I knew he could hit,” manager Dusty Baker said. “I like the way he has worked hard on his baserunning and defense. He stays in the center part of the field (while hitting), and you’ll get a lot of hits if you stay in the center part of the field.”

Watching the ball go over the fence is a memory that will be etched in Julks’ mind forever.

“It’s something he’ll never forget. You always remember your first homer,” Baker said. “I loved giving him the lineup card. It’s something he will cherish and take with him for the rest of his life.”

It gave the Astros a boost and they needed it. Maybe it will catapult the defending World Series champions on a winning streak.