Late Surge Helps Space Cowboys Rebound for 9-5 Win

In the opening game of their series, the Sugar Land Space Cowboys (19-26) overcame a charge from the Salt Lake Bees (20-26) to pick up a 9-5 victory on Tuesday night at Constellation Field.

The Space Cowboys got the scoring started thanks to a home run in the second. Grae Kessinger doubled to left with one out, and after a walk to Pedro León, Rylan Bannon connected for a three-run blast to left, his fifth of the year, giving Sugar Land a 3-0 lead.

RHP Kyle McGowin retired the first eight hitters that he faced before allowing a run on a solo home run by Taylor Jones in the top of the third. McGowin bounced back by sitting down the next seven consecutive hitters, allowing just one run over five frames.

Bannon yet again helped the Space Cowboys generate a run in the bottom of the fourth. The second baseman doubled and advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt by Justin Dirden. A Joe Perez singled plated Bannon to once again give Sugar Land a three-run advantage.

McGowin returned for the top of the sixth and gave up a single and a second home run to Jones, pulling Salt Lake within a run at 4-3. The righty got a pop out for the second out, but a single by Jo Adell ended his night. RHP Austin Hansen (W, 1-1; BS,1) entered and struck out Trey Cabbage, but four straight walks forced in the tying and go-ahead run to put the Bees up 5-4.

Sugar Land surged back in the bottom of the seventh inning. Bligh Madris walked and David Hensley singled, his second hit of the evening, to put the tying run in scoring position. A Korey Lee double knotted the game and a flair single from JJ Matijevic put the Space Cowboys back in front 6-5. Kessinger then walked and a fielder’s choice by León drove in a run to push the lead to 7-5.

RHP Matt Ruppenthal (H,1) hurled a 1-2-3 top of the eighth, striking out a pair. A two-RBI single by Hensley in the bottom of the eighth added on two more runs, and RHP Joe Record tossed a 1-2-3 ninth to lock down the win for Sugar Land.

The Space Cowboys continue their six-game series with the Bees on Wednesday evening. RHP Jayden Murray (2-3, 6.69) gets the start for Sugar Land against Salt Lake RHP John Swanda (NR) for a 6:35 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.