Walk-off caps Moore's first multihomer game
Christian Moore has accomplished a lot in his young baseball career. Prior to the Angels drafting him eighth overall in July, the 21-year-old led Tennessee to a national championship and set program records for career (61) and single-season home runs (34). But the one thing he never got to do,
Christian Moore has accomplished a lot in his young baseball career. Prior to the Angels drafting him eighth overall in July, the 21-year-old led Tennessee to a national championship and set program records for career (61) and single-season home runs (34).
But the one thing he never got to do, dating back to Little League, was hit a walk-off. That was until Wednesday, when the second baseman continued his torrid introduction to Minor League Baseball.
In just his fifth professional game, Moore led the Double-A Rocket City Trash Pandas to a 7-5 win at Toyota Field with his second home run of the day -- an opposite-field shot with two outs in the ninth inning to break the tie. The native of Brooklyn, N.Y., collected four hits and drove in three runs to raise his OPS across two levels to 1.616.
📩 CLICK HERE TO SUBSCRIBE TO BEN'S BIZ
There are hot starts to pro ball and then there's how Moore has played. Through 24 at-bats in five games, he has 12 hits, four homers, 10 RBIs and nine runs. His only unproductive game to date was an 0-for-4 contest on Tuesday, and he quickly learned from that one.
"Yesterday, the approach for them was to throw me offspeeds," Moore said. "Going into today, I had a different gameplan. I was sitting on more offspeeds in certain counts. It was a good day, putting some good swings on it."
True to form, Moore punished the breaking balls all night. On his first trip to the plate, he jumped on a 1-1 hanger and deposited it over the left-field fence. After taking a fastball up the middle in the fifth, he laced another breaking ball to center in the seventh. And when he crushed yet another bender in the ninth, this time to the end the game, he triumphantly flipped his bat, pounded his chest and lifted his right hand to the sky.
Moore has dreamed of such walk-off situations since he was a kid. He's had opportunities here and there but had yet to deliver. Less than two months ago in the NCAA Super Regionals, he came to the plate in the ninth down two runs with two on and two out with a chance to put the Vols ahead and secure a spot in the Men's College World Series.
"I hit a popup, and moments like that, you don't really forget," Moore said. "When you're in the cage as a kid, 'All right, last swing,' That's kind of the mindset you put yourself in -- 3-2 count, I want to hit a walk-off or a game-winning home run. You definitely practice it a lot. For me to actually live it was definitely something cool. Hopefully I get to do it again."
The way Moore is playing, he'll surely have more chances in the future. It's more a matter of where his next walk-off opportunity will come.
The Angels have been known for aggressively challenging their Draft picks. Last year's first-rounder Nolan Schanuel made the Majors just 40 days after getting selected 11th overall. Shortstop Zach Neto (2022 first-rounder) was the first in his class when he debuted in The Show nine months after going 13th overall. Chase Silseth (11th round) was fastest to the bigs among 2021 draftees, with first-rounder Sam Bachman (ninth overall pick) following soon after.
Moore only needed two games with Single-A Inland Empire before getting his first promotion, but he's taking things day by day.
"That walk-off's in the past. I've got to get another one the next day," he said.
The last few months have been a whirlwind, from Knoxville and Omaha to the California League and Southern League. But it's not like he has any real complaints.
"I've been all over, visiting new places that I've never been," Moore said. "It's really cool. At some point, when the season's over, or hopefully I have a long career when it's all said and done, I can kind of reflect and sit down and think about all the places I've been, all the people I've met, all the food I've tasted. ... I've been in so many different places, so many different states in the last couple of months. It's been fun, but it feels nice to have a home in Huntsville."
Ben Weinrib is a contributor for MiLB.com.
Early Lead Spoiled As El Paso Walks Off Sugar Land In Extras
Even though the Sugar Land Space Cowboys (12-11, 51-47) raced out to a 4-0 lead, the El Paso Chihuahuas (14-11, 32-47) scored five unanswered runs, including a walk-off single in the 10th, to sink Sugar Land 5-4 on Friday night at Southwest University Park. The Space Cowboys are 5-2 in
Melton Powers Early Onslaught In Sugar Land's Thursday Night Win
The Sugar Land Space Cowboys (12-10, 51-46) scored six runs on seven hits in the first three innings, including two hits and an RBI from Jacob Melton, leading to a wire-to-wire 7-2 victory over the El Paso Chihuahuas (14-10, 52-47) on Thursday night at Southwest University Park. Melton shot a
14th International Diwali Dussehra Festival Set For October 4 At Constellation Field
The 14th International Diwali Dussehra Festival in Texas is set for Saturday, October 4 at Constellation Field. Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased here. Tickets are $10 in advance and $15 day of, while children seven and under receive free admission, and parking is free. Diwali, known
Constellation Field To Host 2025 Nike RBI Southwest Regional Tournament Championship Games
Constellation Field is set to host the Championship Games of the 2025 Nike RBI Southwest Regional Tournament on Saturday, July 26. The pair of games are scheduled for 9:00 am and 11:30 am with gates opening at 8:30 am. General admission tickets are free but must be claimed here to
Homers From Salazar And Price Not Enough As Space Cowboys Fall on Wednesday Night
César Salazar and Collin Price each belted solo homers, but that would be the only offense for the Sugar Land Space Cowboys (11-10, 50-46) as they dropped game two of their six-game series with the El Paso Chihuahuas (14-9, 52-46) 5-2 Wednesday night at Southwest University Park. The first two
Late Comeback Falls Short As El Paso Snaps Sugar Land's Winning Streak
Although the Sugar Land Space Cowboys (11-9, 50-45) pulled within a run after trailing by three runs multiple times, their comeback bid fell short in a 5-4 defeat against the El Paso Chihuahuas (13-9, 51-46) on Tuesday night at Southwest University Park. RHP Tyler Ivey stranded a one-out walk in
Ullola Fans Sugar Land Season-High 11 Batters In Series Sweep Over Salt Lake
RHP Miguel Ullola (W,5-2) punched out 11 batters, a Sugar Land season high, as the Sugar Land Space Cowboys (11-8, 50-44) stymied the Salt Lake Bees’ (7-14, 36-59) offense to clinch a series sweep with a 3-1 win on Sunday night at Constellation Field. The Space Cowboys are currently on
Narváez Drives In Three Powering Sugar Land To Series-Clinching Win
The Sugar Land Space Cowboys (10-8, 49-44) jumped out to a 7-0 lead behind six combined RBI from Omar Narváez and Jesús Bastidas and cruised to a 7-3 win over the Salt Lake Bees (7-13, 36-58) on Saturday night at Constellation Field. The Space Cowboys are currently on a six-game
Alexander's Dominant Start Leads Sugar Land to Shutout Win
RHP Jason Alexander (W, 5-0) tossed a season-high 6.2 innings with nine strikeouts, propelling the Sugar Land Space Cowboys (9-8, 48-44) to a 2-0 shutout win in their series opener against the Salt Lake Bees (7-12, 36-57) on Friday night at Constellation Field. Friday was Sugar Land’s PCL-leading eighth shutout
Sugar Land Returns From All-Star Break With Three-Game Homestand Against Salt Lake
Following the All-Star Break, the defending Triple-A National Champion Sugar Land Space Cowboys host a three-game set against the Salt Lake Bees, Triple-A affiliate of the Los Angeles Angels, from July 18 through July 20. Friday, July 18 vs. Salt Lake @ 7:05 PM The homestand kicks off with Sugar
Next Center Field Cinema Presented by Houston Methodist Comes on September 12
As a continuation of Center Field Cinema presented by Houston Methodist, ‘Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone’ will be playing at Constellation Field on Friday, September 12. Tickets for Center Field Cinema are free but must be claimed here, and parking is free. Gates open at 6:00 pm and the
Price Picks Up Three Knocks In Sugar Land's Series-Clinching Win On Sunday
A three-run fifth and three combined runs in the eighth and ninth lifted the Sugar Land Space Cowboys (8-8, 47-44) to a 6-2 series-clinching win over the Oklahoma City Comets (10-8, 56-37) on Sunday afternoon at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark. The 5-6-7 in Sugar Land’s lineup combined for seven hits, three
Singleton's Multi-Homer Game Seals Sugar Land's Third-Straight Win
For the second day in a row, Jon Singleton recorded a five-RBI night as the first baseman clubbed two homers, helping the Sugar Land Space Cowboys (7-8, 46-44) to a 7-5 win against the Oklahoma City Comets (10-7, 56-36) on Saturday night at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark. Singleton’s multi-homer game is
Singleton's Five-RBI Game Propels Sugar Land To Comeback Win In Extras
After trailing 3-1 in the top of the eighth, Jon Singleton knotted the contest up at three with a two-run homer before belting a bases-clearing double in the tenth, lifting the Sugar Land Space Cowboys (6-8, 45-44) to an 8-5 comeback win in 10 innings over the Oklahoma City Comets
Three Homers Carry Sugar Land To Thursday Night Victory
Jesús Bastidas and Edwin Díaz combined for six hits and seven RBI, including a grand slam from Díaz, powering the Sugar Land Space Cowboys (5-8, 44-44) to a 12-8 win over the Oklahoma City Comets (10-5, 56-34) on Thursday night at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark. Díaz’s grand slam was the third
Ivey Spins Second-Straight Quality Start in Wednesday Night Loss
The Sugar Land Space Cowboys (4-8, 43-44) faced the minimum in five-straight innings from the fourth to the eighth, but four runs in the second and third from the Oklahoma City Comets (10-4, 56-33) sunk Sugar Land, 4-1, on Wednesday night at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark. RHP Tyler Ivey worked around
Blubaugh's Gem Not Enough As Sugar Land Drops Series Opener
Although RHP AJ Blubaugh hurled 5.0 innings while only allowing one run on two hits, the Sugar Land Space Cowboys (4-7, 43-43) fell to the Oklahoma City Comets (9-4, 55-33), 2-1 on Tuesday night at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark. After Omar Narváez drew a lead-off walk in the seventh, Quincy Hamilton
Sugar Land and Round Rock Postponed
Sunday night’s game between the Sugar Land Space Cowboys and Round Rock Express has been postponed by rain in Central Texas. The Space Cowboys and Express will now make up the game as part of a doubleheader when Sugar Land returns to Round Rock in early September. Following an off
Space Cowboys Game In Round Rock Postponed
Saturday night’s scheduled game between the Sugar Land Space Cowboys and Round Rock Express at Dell Diamond has been postponed due to continuing rain in the area. Saturday’s game will be made up as part of a doubleheader when the Space Cowboys play Round Rock on Wednesday, September 10 with
Castro Homers Twice, Powers Sugar Land to Independence Day Win
Luis Castro clobbered his ninth and 10th homers of the year while driving in five runs as the Sugar Land Space Cowboys (4-6, 43-42) won their third-straight game over the Round Rock Express (5-5, 39-46), 7-2 on Friday night at Dell Diamond. Castro’s multi-home run game is the seventh from
Corona's Walk-Off Single Seals Sugar Land's Largest Comeback Win of the Year
Trailing 6-0 after three and 6-3 in the ninth, the Sugar Land Space Cowboys (3-6, 42-42) pulled off their largest-comeback win of the season over the Round Rock Express (5-4, 39-45) with a 7-6 extra-innings victory on Thursday night at Constellation Field. Thursday was Sugar Land’s fourth walk-off win of
Ivey's Quality Start Keys Sugar Land To Wednesday Night Win
Behind RHP Tyler Ivey’s (W, 2-6) quality start and seven combined hits with five RBI from the bottom of the order, the Sugar Land Space Cowboys (2-6, 41-42) evened their series against the Round Rock Express (5-3, 39-44), with an 8-1 victory on Wednesday night at Constellation Field. Ivey swiftly
Brice Matthews and Ray Gaither Named Astros Upper-Level Player and Pitcher For June
Sugar Land Space Cowboys infielder Brice Matthews and RHP Ray Gaither have been named the Houston Astros Upper-Level Minor League Player and Pitcher of the Month for June as announced by the Houston Astros on Wednesday. Matthews slashed .306/.409/.551/.960 in 25 games in June with six doubles, three triples, four
Matthews Extends Season-Best Hitting Streak In Space Cowboys Defeat
Although Brice Matthews pushed his hitting streak to 12 games, a new Sugar Land season high, the Sugar Land Space Cowboys (1-6, 40-42) dropped their series opener against the Round Rock Express (5-2, 39-43), 6-2, on Tuesday night at Constellation Field. While Round Rock took a 1-0 lead in the
Brice Matthews Selected To The 2025 MLB All-Star Futures Game
Sugar Land Space Cowboys infielder Brice Matthews has been selected to participate in the MLB All-Star Futures Game as announced by Major League Baseball on Monday. Matthews is one of 25 players selected to the American League team. The rosters were selected with input from Major League Baseball, MLB Pipeline,