Bats Explode As Space Cowboys Romp Isotopes 14-3
A 14-run outburst for the Sugar Land Space Cowboys (9-18) kicked off the second leg of their two-week road trip as part of a 14-3 victory over the Albuquerque Isotopes (12-16) on Tuesday night at Isotopes Park. The evening was highlighted by a career night from JJ Matijevic, who recorded
A 14-run outburst for the Sugar Land Space Cowboys (9-18) kicked off the second leg of their two-week road trip as part of a 14-3 victory over the Albuquerque Isotopes (12-16) on Tuesday night at Isotopes Park. The evening was highlighted by a career night from JJ Matijevic, who recorded five hits and eight RBI.
There's anchoring a lineup and then there's J.J. Matijevic 🔥
— Minor League Baseball (@MiLB) May 3, 2023
🖐️ hits
🎱 RBIs
The @astros 1B/OF set a pair of career highs to aid a 14-run @SLSpaceCowboys rodeo: pic.twitter.com/yDVh2zk7F1
Michael Brantley helped kick start the Sugar Land offense in the first, doubling to left before scoring on the first triple of the night by Matijevic, making it 1-0 Space Cowboys.
The Isotopes scored one run in the bottom of the first on a sacrifice fly and added on two more in the second on a throwing error, a double, a walk and a sacrifice fly, pushing ahead 3-1 as the contest moved to the third.
LHP Josh Rogers (L, 1-1) recorded the first two outs in the third inning but Brantley helped spark a two-out rally with his second double of the evening. Korey Lee then reached on a throwing error and Matijevic dropped a single into right, pulling the Space Cowboys within a run. Joe Perez tied the game with a single to left, extending his hitting streak to seven games, and Grae Kessinger put the Space Cowboys in front for good with a single to left, making it 4-3 Sugar Land.
As easy as 1-2-3 hits for rehabbing @astros All-Star Michael Brantley with the @SLSpaceCowboys: pic.twitter.com/7tUJ50F378
— Minor League Baseball (@MiLB) May 3, 2023
In the top of the fourth, RHP Stephen Jones walked four straight batters to force in a run, departing with one out. Matijevic cleared the bases with his second triple of the night, giving him five RBI at the time and vaulting the Space Cowboys to an 8-3 lead. Perez’ second RBI single of the night widened the margin to 9-3.
RHP Bryan Garcia returned for the bottom of the fourth inning and struck out Grayson Greiner, but a single and two walks loaded the bases. RHP Matt Ruppenthal (W, 1-0) needed just one pitch to leave the sacks full, inducing a groundout from Elehuris Montero. The righty then pitched two perfect frames, striking out two as part of his first Triple-A victory.
A double by Matijevic in the fifth plated two more runs, including Brantley scoring for a fourth time. The Space Cowboys would add on their final two runs in the eighth when Bligh Madris singled, Michael Sandle was hit by a pitch and Lee singled into left, picking up his second RBI of the night. Matijevic then ripped a single to right, his fifth hit of the night, driving in the final run of the ballgame to make it 14-3 Sugar Land.
Matijevic’s five hits are the most in a single game for a Sugar Land player since they joined the Triple-A ranks in 2021 and his eight-RBI are also a single game record. He is also the first Space Cowboys player to record two triples in a game and came just a home run shy of the first cycle in Space Cowboys’ history.
After Ruppenthal, RHP Joe Record tossed two scoreless innings, striking out three, and RHP Enoli Paredes hurled a scoreless ninth to close out the contest.
Sugar Land continues their six-game series against the Isotopes on Wednesday evening. RHP Shawn Dubin (0-0, 4.32) is scheduled to take the mound for the Space Cowboys against Albuquerque RHP Phillips Valdez (0-1, 10.54) for a 7:05 pm CT first pitch. The game can be heard on ESPN 92.5 FM or online here.
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.