Henley Blanks Express As Space Cowboys Claim Series Win

In their second shutout of the year, the Sugar Land Space Cowboys (33-18) shut down the Round Rock Express (27-23) 5-0 on Sunday night at Constellation Field to collect their sixth series win of the season.

RHP Blair Henley (W, 2-3) allowed his first baserunner to reach when he hit Davis Wendzel in the first, but Henley followed it up by retiring the next 11 hitters in a row, including a diving catch by Cooper Hummel on a sinking line drive in the fourth to preserve the no-hitter. Henley remained hitless through 6.0 innings pitched and returned for the seventh, but Sam Huff slapped a base-hit through the left side to end Henley’s spectacular night. Henley pitched his second quality start of the season and the third of the Space Cowboys rotation, tying a career high with 6.0 innings pitched. RHP Shawn Dubin (H, 1) inherited Huff and induced a double play from the next batter, part of 2.0 innings of scoreless, hitless relief for Dubin who faced the minimum.

In the fifth inning, the Space Cowboys got on the board when César Salazar doubled down the right field line with two outs to bring up Luke Berryhill, who knocked his fifth home run of the season to left field, breaking the scoreless game. The two-run blast was Sugar Land’s first time scoring since the third inning of Saturday night’s game.

VERY CHILL BERRYHILL PUTS US ON THE BOARD! pic.twitter.com/HmtkKukJ1X

— Sugar Land Space Cowboys (@SLSpaceCowboys) May 27, 2024

Sugar Land was able to tack on another in the sixth on a Salazar sacrifice fly that brought in Will Wagner after Hummel doubled him over to third. In the eighth, Hummel smacked a two-run monster-shot out of the ballpark to extend Sugar Land’s advantage to 5-0. RHP Luis Contreras came in for the ninth, and despite allowing two baserunners to reach, ended the game on a strikeout of Blaine Crim.

I'm sorry WHERE did that ball go? pic.twitter.com/Tb3JAOm08C

— Sugar Land Space Cowboys (@SLSpaceCowboys) May 27, 2024

LUKE BERRYHILL:

On what was working well for him and Henley:

“Everything. We were on the same page for a lot of the stuff. We were talking between every inning about the plan we wanted to attack other hitters with. Just having that relationship, knowing each other inside and out, knowing what each other’s thinking, so we’re just on the same page. He almost never shook off.”

On his two-run home run in the fourth inning:

“I believe it was a first pitch cutter that he just left down the middle. At this level, you’re supposed to hit stuff down the middle, so I just put a good swing on it and didn’t miss.”

Coming off a series win, the Space Cowboys head to Las Vegas to take on the Aviators for a six-game set beginning on Tuesday night. RHP AJ Blubaugh (3-0, 3.16) will take the ball for Sugar Land. Oakland Athletics starter RHP Luis Medina (0-0, 19.29) is scheduled to make a rehab assignment for the Las Vegas Aviators for a 9:05 pm CT first pitch. The game can be heard on ESPN 92.5 FM or online here and seen on MiLB.TV, MLB.TV or Bally Live.

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.