Perez Drives in Two However Eighth-Inning Rally Leads Astros Over Space Cowboys
In a shootout that featured four lead changes and a pair of ties, the Sugar Land Space Cowboys fell to their parent club, the Houston Astros, 6-5 on Tuesday night at Daikin Park in the final exhibition game of the spring. The Space Cowboys started with a Shay Whitcomb one-out
In a shootout that featured four lead changes and a pair of ties, the Sugar Land Space Cowboys fell to their parent club, the Houston Astros, 6-5 on Tuesday night at Daikin Park in the final exhibition game of the spring.
The Space Cowboys started with a Shay Whitcomb one-out double and a Taylor Trammell single to put runners on the corners in the first. Carlos Perez singled with a ground ball to third, scoring Whitcomb to give Sugar Land a 1- 0 lead.
In the top of the third with runners on first and second, Perez collected his second single of the game, this time on a line drive to right field for his second RBI, widening Sugar Land’s lead to 2-0.
Carlos Perez stays hot—2-for-2 with 2 RBIs as Sugar Land leads 2–0 after three. Take that Big Bro! pic.twitter.com/4cerEZoivF
— Sugar Land Space Cowboys (@SLSpaceCowboys) March 25, 2026
On the mound for the Space Cowboys, RHP Miguel Ullola worked around base runners in the first, second and fourth to fire 4.0 scoreless innings. An inherited runner came in to score on a single by Carlos Correa and an error, tying the game at 2-2 after five innings.
Sugar Land retook the lead 4-2 in the top of the sixth inning. The first two hitters walked and then singles from Colin Price and Kellen Strahm each plated runs to put the Space Cowboys back in front. However, former Space Cowboy Brice Matthews singled in the home half of the inning and fellow former Sugar Land infielder Jermey Peña connected for two-run homer, knotting the game at 4-4.
In the top of the seventh, Freddy Batista worked a two-out walk before Yamal Encarnacion lined a single to right field, moving Batista to third. The Space Cowboys then executed a double steal, with Encarnacion swiping second and Batista stealing home, allowing Sugar Land to reclaim a 5-4 lead.
We know it isn't our house, but we felt like stealing home. pic.twitter.com/JzCDr4pbXG
— Sugar Land Space Cowboys (@SLSpaceCowboys) March 25, 2026
Matthews led off the bottom of the eighth with a single before John Garcia popped out for the first out of the inning. Tommy Sacco Jr. then worked a walk, moving Matthews into scoring position at second. A passed ball allowed both runners to advance, putting the tying and go-ahead runs in scoring position. Yainer Díaz followed with a single to right field, bringing home both runners as the Astros took a 6-5 lead.
For a second consecutive season, the Space Cowboys will open the season at Constellation Field when they take on the Round Rock Express on Friday, March 27. Full season, half season, 10-game plans, Axis+ plans and mini-plans are all available for the 2026 season 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, 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.