Space Cowboys Miss Series Sweep After Nearly Completing Comeback

In a back-and-forth battle all day, the Sugar Land Space Cowboys (10-5) dropped the series finale against the Albuquerque Isotopes (3-11) at Isotopes Park on Sunday, 9-8.

The Isotopes struck first off RHP Blair Henley, with Coco Montes smacking an RBI single to make it 1-0. Albuquerque threatened to add on by loading the bases with two outs, but Henley got a huge strikeout of Jimmy Herron to end the inning. Their first inning lead was the first time the Isotopes have led in the entire six-game series with the Space Cowboys.

In the top of the third, after César Salazar worked a walk, Jacob Amaya cranked a two-run home run to straightaway center, taking the lead right back from the Isotopes. Amaya’s blast soared 446 feet, the longest home run of the season for the Space Cowboys. Back-to-back doubles from David Hensley and Jesús Bastidas brought the score to 3-1.

Albuquerque’s Herron came up to the plate with the bases loaded in the bottom half of the frame, where this time he drove in two runs on a single to tie the game at three. In the fifth and sixth innings, Hunter Goodman and Sam Hillard each had home runs to put the Isotopes back on top at 6-3.

The Space Cowboys rallied in the eighth inning with a lead-off double from Joey Loperfido. A single from Pedro León put runners on the corners for Will Wagner, who ripped an RBI double into center field to score Loperfido. Next man up Shay Whitcomb grounded out, allowing León the chance to come home. Salazar then stepped up and knocked in the tying run to make it six apiece.

In the top of the ninth with the game still tied, Bastidas smashed a one-out double to bring up Loperfido, who was intentionally walked after going 11-for-26 in the series with seven extra-base hits. Trey Cabbage then stepped up to the plate and sent a double over the centerfielder’s head, scoring two and giving the Space Cowboys the lead back at 8-6.

The Isotopes came back swinging in the bottom half of the ninth, scoring three runs on four hits to walk off the Space Cowboys and win the finale 9-8.

Henley gave up six hits, five runs (four earned) and three walks in 5.0 innings of work, striking out three. RHP Connor Greene gave up one run and LHP Bryan King pitched a scoreless inning. RHP Miguel Díaz (L, 0-1), who pitched the eighth and into the ninth, was tagged with the loss after giving up three, and RHP Drew Strotman delivered the final pitch that led the Isotopes to victory.

The Space Cowboys return to Constellation Field for the start of a six-game series against the Round Rock Express Tuesday night. RHP Misael Tamarez is set to take the mound for Sugar Land while Round Rock has not named a starter for a 6:35 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.