Space Cowboys Unable to Pull Through After Early Deficit

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Sugar Land Space Cowboys

Space Cowboys Unable to Pull Through After Early Deficit

September 12, 2024 - 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.

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Pacific Coast League Stories from September 12, 2024


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