Bastidas, Salazar's Go-Ahead Homers Give Space Cowboys First Extra-Innings Win
Down three runs heading into the eighth, the Sugar Land Space Cowboys (15-7) came back against the Reno Aces (11-10) with two huge home runs in the late innings at Greater Nevada Field to pick up a 10-9 victory. In their last chance to make a splash in the ninth
Down three runs heading into the eighth, the Sugar Land Space Cowboys (15-7) came back against the Reno Aces (11-10) with two huge home runs in the late innings at Greater Nevada Field to pick up a 10-9 victory.
In their last chance to make a splash in the ninth inning down two, the Space Cowboys loaded the bases with no outs for Jesús Bastidas. A wild pitch from RHP Dakota Chalmers (BS,2) scored Shay Whitcomb from third and advanced David Hensley and Joey Loperfido 90 feet, bringing Sugar Land within one of tying the game. Bastidas then launched a 3-2 pitch deep to left field for a three-run homer, putting Sugar Land on top 8-6.
OUR SAVIOR, JESÚS BASTIDAS 😱 pic.twitter.com/LboIxnc8Kh
— Sugar Land Space Cowboys (@SLSpaceCowboys) April 23, 2024
RHP Wander Suero (W, 2-0) gave up two runs in the bottom of the ninth to allow Reno to tie the game at eight and send it to extras, the first extra-inning game of the season for Sugar Land. In the top of the tenth, with one man on, César Salazar sent a ball to deep right field that bounced off the glove of Aces right fielder Brett Johnson and over the fence, giving the Space Cowboys a 10-8 lead. RHP Logan VanWey (S, 3) allowed the placed runner to score in the bottom of the tenth but managed to get three outs without any more trouble to secure Sugar Land’s 15th win of the season, 10-9.
AHEAD. AGAIN. RELENTLESS. pic.twitter.com/0UAZhMklk2
— Sugar Land Space Cowboys (@SLSpaceCowboys) April 23, 2024
After the Aces jumped out to a 4-0 lead on RHP AJ Blubaugh in the first behind a couple of RBI hits from Kolten Wong and Josh Herrera, the Space Cowboys responded with a pair in the second to trim the deficit to 4-2. Pedro León plated the first run of the day for Sugar Land with an RBI double down the left-field line and Cooper Hummel followed with an RBI single up the middle.
In the third, the Space Cowboys pulled within one when Bastidas grounded out on the left side, allowing David Hensley to rush in from third base to make it 4-3 Reno.
RHP Joel Kuhnel relieved Blubaugh in the fourth and allowed a couple of base hits to give Reno a 5-3 lead. In the seventh, Ace’s Kyle Garlick knocked a solo home run to make their advantage 6-3.
In the top of the eighth, Trey Cabbage ripped a line drive single to left field and advanced to third base on a fielding error by Garlick. Will Wagner came through with a liner up the middle to score Cabbage and make it 6-4 Reno. Cabbage went 1-for-2 with three walks this afternoon, vaulting him to the top of the Pacific Coast League leader board in walks at 19 this season.
The Space Cowboys continue their series against the Reno Aces on Wednesday night. RHP Rhett Kouba (1-1, 3.86) is set to take the mound against RHP Humberto Castellanos for an 8:05 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.