First-Inning Explosion fuels Sugar Land Win

Three Home Runs In The First Inning Ignite A Fast Start As Sugar Land Rolls To A 12-6 Victory

By Raymond Brown/Sugar Land Space Cowboys

April 18, 2026

The Sugar Land Space Cowboys (11-7) came out swinging on Friday night, erupting for a massive first inning that set the tone in a 12-6 victory over the Salt Lake Bees (7-11). Sugar Land wasted no time getting on the board. James Nelson led off the game with a single,

The Sugar Land Space Cowboys (11-7) came out swinging on Friday night, erupting for a massive first inning that set the tone in a 12-6 victory over the Salt Lake Bees (7-11).

Sugar Land wasted no time getting on the board. James Nelson led off the game with a single, stole second, and advanced to third on a throwing error. CJ Alexander followed by working a walk to put runners on the corners, and Carlos Pèrez capitalized, launching a three-run home run to give the Space Cowboys an early 3-0 lead.

BIG FLY FROM PEREZ 💥Space Cowboys up 3-0! pic.twitter.com/224QiL5SBQ
— Sugar Land Space Cowboys (@SLSpaceCowboys) April 18, 2026

The inning only gained momentum from there. Kellen Strahm drew a walk and stole second, setting the stage for Jax Biggers, who connected on his first home run of the season to extend the lead to 5-0. Riley Unroe kept the rally going with a solo shot of his own, his first of the year, making it three home runs in the inning and pushing the advantage to 6-0. After Parker Chavers worked a walk, Nelson capped off the explosive frame with his second hit of the inning, a double to center field that brought home another run and stretched the lead to 7-0.

RILEY UNROE JOINS THE PARTY 💥 Third bomb of the inning! #ASCEND pic.twitter.com/XDZ0WKTd2M
— Sugar Land Space Cowboys (@SLSpaceCowboys) April 18, 2026

Sugar Land continued to apply pressure in the second inning. Alexander again reached base with a walk, and Pérez followed with a double to put two runners in scoring position. Collin Price delivered with a single to left field, driving in another run to make it 8-0.

Salt Lake began to chip away in the bottom of the third. Christian Moore worked a leadoff walk, and Nelson Rada doubled to put two runners in scoring position. A pair of groundouts allowed both runners to score, cutting the deficit to 8-2.

The Bees added on in the fourth after Donovan Walton drew a walk and Nick Madrigal singled. Chris Taylor then lined a double to bring in another run, making it 8-3.

Salt Lake continued its push in the fifth, as Jose Siri tripled to open the inning and later scored on a double from Walton, trimming the lead to 8-4.

Sugar Land responded in the sixth to regain control. Strahm reached and moved into scoring position, and after Biggers worked a walk, Unroe delivered again with an RBI single to extend the lead. Chavers followed with a groundout that plated another run, pushing the advantage to 10-4.

In the eighth, the Space Cowboys added insurance. Strahm led off with a single, and Unroe drove him in with a double. Nelson followed with another base hit, bringing home the 12th run of the night for Sugar Land.

Salt Lake mounted a late push in the ninth, scoring two runs, but it would not be enough. Sugar Land held on to secure the 12-6 win, riding a dominant first inning to victory.

NOTABLE:

Saturday night marked the first time in Sugar Land Space Cowboys affiliated history that the team hit three home runs in the first inning.
Jax Biggers recorded his first home run of the season, a two-run shot in the first inning. It was Biggers’ first home runs since September 11, 2025 when he was with Frisco in the Rangers’ system.
Riley Unroe left the yard for the first time this season, his first home run since September 13, 2025 with Toledo against Louisville. He finished the night 3-for-4 with a single, a double, a home run, three RBI, two runs scored and a walk, marking his first three-hit game since September 7, 2025.
James Nelson collected four hits on the night, his first four-hit performance since August 3, 2017, when he was with the Greensboro Grasshoppers. Nelson finished Friday night going 4-for-6 with two doubles, two RBI and a run scored.
The Space Cowboys hit back-to-back home runs on Friday night, the first time they’ve collected back-to-back home runs this year. Sugar Land went back-to-back eight times in 2025, with the last coming on August 29 vs. Albuquerque when Taylor Trammell and Shay Whitcomb went back-to-back in the sixth inning.
Sugar Land scored a season-high 12 runs on Friday night, surpassing their previous high of 10 runs scored on April 1 at Jacksonville.

Sugar Land now turns their eyes to a doubleheader on Saturday night starting at 5:05 pm CT with RHP Jason Alexander set to take the ball opposite RHP Caden Dana in Game One. The game can be heard online anywhere at SLSpaceCowboys.com/Listen.

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, winning their first Triple-A title in 2024 by clinching both the Pacific Coast League Championship and Triple-A National Championship. 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). Season ticket plans for the 2026 season are available now and can be purchased at slspacecowboys.com/tickets.