Space Cowboys Unable to Pull Through After Early Deficit
Published on September 12, 2024 under Pacific Coast League (PCL)
Sugar Land Space Cowboys News Release
SUGAR LAND, TX - After finding themselves in a 5-0 hole after the second inning, the Sugar Land Space Cowboys (89-51, 40-25) could not fight back against the Reno Aces (72-68, 37-28) as Sugar Land fell in Thursday night's contest at Constellation Field, 5-2. [?Folder icon] Highlights of tonight's game can be found here.
In the top of the first, RHP AJ Blubaugh (L, 12-4) got the first two outs with ease before giving up back-to-back singles to Tristin English and Kyle Garlick. Blubaugh was ahead in the count 2-2 to Tim Tawa, but the Reno first baseman mashed a fastball to left field for a three-run home run. The next inning, the Aces tacked on a couple more on a two-run double from Jorge Barrosa to give Reno a quick 5-0 lead.
Sugar Land inched back in the third when Cooper Hummel drew a walk and Pedro León singled to put two on with one out. Zach Dezenzo took a curveball from LHP Tommy Henry (W, 9-1) and sent it over the fence in left field, bouncing off the railing and making its way back onto the field, officially called a double as one run scored. Trey Cabbage then hit a sacrifice fly to the warning track in right, allowing León plenty of time to tag up and score from third, cutting Reno's lead to 5-2.
Blubaugh's night ended after 78 pitches and three innings. Taking over in the fourth was RHP Conner Greene, who pitched a scoreless inning. Greene returned for the fifth and loaded the bases on a pair of walks and a single with one out. The reliever proceeded to strike out Bryson Brigman on three pitches and induce a flyout for the last out of the frame to escape the jam, preventing Reno from doing any more damage.
The Space Cowboys missed a couple of key chances to score. First in the sixth, when a couple of singles put two on with two outs, but Henry stranded the runners with a popout to end the inning. In the seventh, the Reno bullpen loaded the bases on two walks and a soft single with two outs, but LHP Kyle Backhus got a strikeout to close out the frame and keep Reno's lead at 5-2.
In addition to the two scoreless frames from Greene, RHP Nick Hernandez, RHP Seth Martinez and RHP Rafael Montero hurled a combined four innings of one-hit ball. In their final chance to score, the Space Cowboys went down in order on six pitches against RHP Scott McGough (S, 7) to drop Thursday night's contest 5-2.
The Space Cowboys look to bounce back against Reno on Friday night. Sugar Land's starter is TBA while RHP Yilber Diaz (3-4, 3.22) will take the mound for Reno with a 7:05 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.
Pacific Coast League Stories from September 12, 2024
- Tacoma Pulls away Late to Down OKC - Oklahoma City Comets
- Space Cowboys Unable to Pull Through After Early Deficit - Sugar Land Space Cowboys
- Tawa Stays Hot, Reno Takes Down Sugar Land in 5-2 Victory - Reno Aces
- Sacramento Earns 3-2 Victory over Round Rock - Round Rock Express
- Isotopes Fall to Homer-Happy Aviators, 8-6 - Albuquerque Isotopes
- OKC Baseball Club Game Notes - September 12, 2024 - Oklahoma City Comets
- September 12 Game Notes: Tacoma Rainiers at Oklahoma City Baseball Club - Tacoma Rainiers
- Round Rock RHP Kumar Rocker Promoted to Texas - Round Rock Express
- Reno Aces Announce 100% Ticket-Proceeds Sale to Benefit Affected Residents of Davis Fire - Reno Aces
- Going Yard Home Run Derby Coming to Constellation Field - Sugar Land Space Cowboys
- Leon's Go-Ahead Home Run Gives Space Cowboys 6-5 Victory - Sugar Land Space Cowboys
- Express Post 6-5 Victory over River Cats on Wednesday Night - Round Rock Express
- Isotopes Lose 5-3 to Las Vegas for Third-Straight Defeat - Albuquerque Isotopes
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