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MLB

Nelson Stays Hot But Space Cowboys Drop Second Straight To Aces

France Fires 4.0 Innings, Strikes Out Five in Spot Start
By Raymond Brown/Sugar Land Space Cowboys
12:19 AM EDT

Despite a multi-homer game from James Nelson, the Sugar Land Space Cowboys (16-14) fell to the Reno Aces (15-15) 3-2 on Wednesday night at Greater Nevada Field. Sugar Land struck first in the opening inning as James Nelson launched a leadoff home run to deep left-center field, giving the Space

Despite a multi-homer game from James Nelson, the Sugar Land Space Cowboys (16-14) fell to the Reno Aces (15-15) 3-2 on Wednesday night at Greater Nevada Field.

Sugar Land struck first in the opening inning as James Nelson launched a leadoff home run to deep left-center field, giving the Space Cowboys an early 1-0 lead.

After tying the game in the second on a double and a balk, Reno responded in the fourth, using an infield single followed by a two-run home run to take a 3-1 advantage.

Nelson continued his hot stretch in the sixth, blasting his second home run of the night, this time to left field, to cut the deficit to 3-2. Nelson has now recorded a hit in nine straight games and is batting 14-for-40 (.350) with three home runs, four doubles, and four RBI throughout that stretch.

The Sugar Land pitching staff kept the game within reach, but the Space Cowboys were unable to mount a comeback, dropping their second straight in Reno. RHP Jose Fleury fired 2.1 shutout innings, RHP Anthony Maldonado recorded two key outs to strand the bases loaded in the seventh and RHP Logan VanWey added a strong inning of relief, allowing no hits and striking out two, marking his third consecutive hitless appearance.

NOTABLE:

  • James Nelson went 2-for-4 with two home runs on Thursday night. This marks Nelson’s first multi-homer game of his affiliated career and pushes him to 14-for-40 (.350), with three home runs, four doubles, and four RBI throughout his last nine games. Thursday night’s multi-homer game is the third multi-homer game of the season for the Space Cowboys with the other two belonging to Shay Whitcomb (4/1 @ JAX) and CJ Alexander (4/15 @ SL).
  • RHP Logan VanWey tossed 1.0 inning, allowing no hits and striking out two, marking his third straight hitless appearance. Thursday’s outing was his 13th of the season, the most in the Pacific Coast League.

Sugar Land looks to bounce back against the Reno Aces tomorrow. RHP Ethan Pecko is set to throw for the Space Cowboys against LHP Mitch Bratt for an 8:05 pm first pitch on Friday night. 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.

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