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PITTSBURGH (AP) -- Corey Julks grew up in the Houston suburbs and played collegiately for the hometown Cougars.
No wonder the Astros rookie outfielder looks so comfortable in blue and orange.
Julks hit his first big league home run, a shot to the bleachers in left field off Rich Hill, and Houston rode the pitching of Jose Urquidy to a 7-0 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Wednesday.
The 27-year-old Julks had to wait out a lengthy delay before heading to the plate in the bottom of the fourth due to an umpire switch at home plate after Jerry Layne took a foul ball off a hand.
Julks bided his time during the 20-minute stoppage while Brock Ballou moved from first to home, then drilled an 82 mph cutter from Hill before rounding the bases with a smile.
"It was nice to get that one out of the way," said Julks, who received the lineup card from manager Dusty Baker after the game. "Just (got to) keep them coming."
Julks, Chas McCormick and Jose Abreu had two hits each for Houston.
Alex Bregman homered for the second straight game, a three-run shot in the seventh that gave the Astros plenty of breathing room as Houston bounced back from a walk-off loss to the Pirates on Tuesday by putting a dent in Pittsburgh's fast start.
Hill (0-2) worked six efficient innings but received little support from his teammates. Signed to a an $8 million, one-year deal in the offseason to provide a young pitching staff with a veteran presence, the 43-year-old Hill struggled during his last start. Unable to get his breaking stuff that can dip below 70 mph, Chicago teed off for seven runs in just four innings of work.