Flying High: Space Cowboys Enjoy Second Walk-Off Victory Thanks To Madris Sac Fly
For a second time in three days, the Sugar Land Space Cowboys (14-21) won in a 10th inning walk-off over the El Paso Chihuahuas (16-20), claiming a 7-6 victory on Thursday night at Constellation Field. Trailing 6-4 heading to the bottom of the eighth, Joe Perez started the inning with
For a second time in three days, the Sugar Land Space Cowboys (14-21) won in a 10th inning walk-off over the El Paso Chihuahuas (16-20), claiming a 7-6 victory on Thursday night at Constellation Field.
Trailing 6-4 heading to the bottom of the eighth, Joe Perez started the inning with a single against RHP Angel Felipe (BS,1). Bligh Madris then doubled to put two men in scoring position and a single up the middle by Korey Lee brought Sugar Land within a run at 6-5. A wild pitch plated Madris and sent the contest to the ninth tied at 6-6.
LHP Parker Mushinski threw a scoreless top of the ninth, using a double play from Grae Kessinger to JJ Matijevic to send the game to the bottom of the ninth still level. After the Space Cowboys were retired in order in the home half of the frame, RHP Cesar Gomez (W, 2-0) entered for the 10th and got the bonus runner out on a comebacker before three straight groundballs led to two outs that stranded the tying run at third.
Perez started as the bonus runner for the Space Cowboys in the bottom of the 10th and advanced to third on a single by Dixon Machado. Madris stepped in and skied a fly ball to center field, deep enough to easily bring home Perez for a walk-off sacrifice fly.
The Space Cowboys took an early lead in the bottom of the second inning. Pedro León started the frame with a double off the center field wall and moved to third on a single by Rylan Bannon. After a ground out, Perez singled deep in the hole at short to drive in one run, and Bannon scored from third on a throwing error to first by shortstop Jose Iglesias, putting Sugar Land up 2-0.
In the bottom of the third, Lee and Matijevic each singled at the start of the inning and Bannon delivered another run on a sacrifice fly, pushing the Space Cowboys ahead 3-0.
RHP Austin Hansen struck out six through three scoreless innings but a single, an error and a two-run homer by Matthew Batton tied the contest at 3-3, ending the night for Hansen with two outs in the fourth. El Paso would add on three more runs in the top of the fifth inning, taking advantage of five Space Cowboy walks.
Sugar Land got a run back in the home half of the fifth thanks to the middle of the order. Lee and Matijevic yet again hit back-to-back singles and Bannon brought in Lee with a single through the left side, pulling the Space Cowboys within two runs at 6-4. RHP Kyle McGowin helped keep the Space Cowboys close, throwing three hitless, scoreless innings of relief in his debut in the Astros’ organization.
Leading 2-1 in their series, the Space Cowboys and Chihuahuas continue their six-game engagement on Friday night at Constellation Field. RHP Jayden Murray (2-3, 6.67) is set to start for Sugar Land against El Paso LHP Jay Groome (1-2, 7.99) for a 7:05 pm first pitch. The game can be heard on ESPN 92.5 FM or online here and seen on MiLB.TV.
*ABOUT THE SUGAR LAND SPACE COWBOYS: *
The Sugar Land Space Cowboys are the Triple-A affiliate of the Houston Astros and compete in the Pacific Coast League. They began play as the Astros Triple-A affiliate in 2021 and began playing under the Space Cowboys brand in 2022. The Space Cowboys play at Constellation Field, located at the corner of Hwy-6 and US-90 Alternate in Sugar Land, Texas. Follow the team on Twitter (@SLSpaceCowboys), Instagram (@slspacecowboys), Facebook (SLSpaceCowboys) and their official website (slspacecowboys.com). Fans can purchase full-season and partial-season plans, as well as single-game tickets, by visiting slspacecowboys.com/tickets.