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Bats Continue Torrid Pace With Five Homers In 18-9 Victory Over Isotopes

Every Space Cowboy Records A Hit In Fifth Consecutive Win
By Amanda Perry
April 14, 2024

An evening after scoring 16 runs on 16 hits, the Sugar Land Space Cowboys (10-4) out-did themselves by topping the Albuquerque Isotopes (2-12) 18-9 on Saturday night at Isotopes Park. The Space Cowboys were the first to score on an RBI fielder’s choice from Trey Cabbage. The lead was not

An evening after scoring 16 runs on 16 hits, the Sugar Land Space Cowboys (10-4) out-did themselves by topping the Albuquerque Isotopes (2-12) 18-9 on Saturday night at Isotopes Park.

The Space Cowboys were the first to score on an RBI fielder’s choice from Trey Cabbage. The lead was not kept for long, as Jordan Beck led off the bottom of the first with a homer to center, tying the game at one apiece. Starter RHP Ryan Gusto responded by retiring the next six hitters in a row including five via strikeout.

In the top of the second, Sugar Land re-took the lead on a bases-loaded fielder’s choice by César Salazar and then an RBI ground out by David Hensley. This left one on base for Corey Julks, who proceeded to crank a two-run homer down the line, sailing 391 feet to left field, pushing Sugar Land to a 5-1 lead after two innings.

The Isotopes fought back in the bottom of the third with Greg Jones working a bases loaded walk, and a two-RBI single from Aaron Schunk to bring them within one at 5-4.

With Shay Whitcomb on first, Salazar pounded a pitch from RHP Thomas Ponticelli (L, 0-3) to the deepest part of the park and sprinted it out for a triple, scoring Whitcomb easily. After a Julks RBI single, Joey Loperfido, who had three homers in last night’s win, launched a two-run home run to right field, extending the Space Cowboys lead to 9-4. Loperfido’s blast marked his tenth home run of the season, helping solidify his home run lead in the Pacific Coast League and all of Minor League Baseball.

With a couple of RBI knocks, the Isotopes brought the game within two in the fourth. In the next half inning, Whitcomb stroked his first hit of the game up the middle to score Jesús Bastidas from second base and to keep the Space Cowboys leading. In the sixth, Cabbage hit a solo blast to left-center field to make it 11-7, his second game in a row hitting a long ball.

The Isotopes began chipping away at the deficit the next frame, scoring two on a couple of RBI singles, but Will Wagner responded by smashing his first Triple-A home run to left-center field in the seventh. Later in the frame, a wild pitch scored Whitcomb from third, and Cabbage drew a bases-loaded walk to bring the score to 14-9.

In the ninth inning, Pedro León sealed the fate of the Isotopes by launching a grand slam off RHP Dylan Spain to left field, making it 18-9. The homer marked the fifth Space Cowboy four-bagger of the night, and the 13th of the series. The slam gave León his 18th RBI of the season, leaping to the fourth most in the league.

Gusto pitched 3.1 innings, giving up five runs on five hits with two walks while striking out seven. RHP Cole McDonald allowed two runs on four hits, and RHP Logan VanWey gave up an additional two runs, only one being earned due to a throwing error. RHP Forrest Whitley (W, 1-0), in his third appearance of the year, pitched a hitless fifth inning, striking out one. RHP Ray Gaither and RHP Dylan Coleman pitched 3.0 innings of scoreless ball, the latter escaping a ninth-inning jam by inducing a double play with the bases loaded to end the game.

The Space Cowboys play their final game against the Albuquerque Isotopes Sunday afternoon at Isotopes Park. RHP Blair Henley is set to take the mound for a 2:35 pm CT first pitch against Albuquerque’s RHP Noah Davis. The game can be heard on ESPN 92.5 FM or online here and seen on MiLB.TV, MLB.TV or Bally Live. The Space Cowboys return to Constellation Field for the start of a six-game series against the Round Rock Express Tuesday night for a 6:35 pm first pitch.

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.

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