Space Cowboys hang on to hand Jumbo Shrimp third straight loss

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp fell 3-2 to the Sugar Land Space Cowboys on Thursday night at VyStar Ballpark in front of a crowd of 5,060 despite multiple opportunities with runners on base in the late innings.

Colton Gordon (W, 1-0) earned the win for Sugar Land (5-1) while limiting Jacksonville (1-5) to two runs on four hits with four strikeouts and two walks.

Patrick Monteverde (L, 0-1) took the loss after going the first three innings and conceding three runs while walking three and striking out five.

Jacksonville lifted the lid on the scoring in the bottom of the first after Andrew Pintar lead off with a single, Kemp Alderman worked a walk and Joe Mack singled to set up a bases loaded no-out situation. Back-to-back Nathan Martorella and Jesús Bastidas sacrifice flies sent the Jumbo Shrimp to a 2-0 lead.

Sugar Land scored all three of their runs in the top of the third following back-to-back walks to Kellen Strahm and Taylor Trammell setting up run scoring doubles from Jack Winkler and Carlos Pérez to flip the score to 3-2 Space Cowboys.

The Space Cowboys bullpen limited Jacksonville hitters to just one hit across the game's final four innings. Jayden Murray set down the Jumbo Shrimp in order in the ninth to secure the win for Sugar Land and his second save of the season.

The series continues Friday with southpaw Robby Snelling (0-0, 2.25) on the mound for Jacksonville opposite Sugar Land right-hander Spencer Arrighetti (0-0, 0.00).

Coverage begins at 6:50 p.m. on Bally Live, MLB.tv, MiLB.tv, ESPN 690 and espn690.com.

Gates open at 6:00 p.m. and fans can enjoy Friday Night Fireworks, as well as Friday Night Lites presented by Miller Lite with $2, 12-oz. Miller Lites and $1 off craft beer in the Craft Cave and Red Shirt Friday presented by Pepsi Zero Sugar where fans who wear red save $1 on their ticket at the Miller Electric Box Office.

The Jumbo Shrimp will also celebrate 20 Years of “Getcha Head in the Game” in honor of two decades of the High School Musical franchise. Listen to your favorite songs from the franchise at the ballpark tomorrow night.

ABOUT THE JUMBO SHRIMP: The Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp are the Triple-A affiliate of the Miami Marlins and compete in the International League. The 2025 International League and Triple-A National Champions, the Jumbo Shrimp call VyStar Ballpark home for baseball but also a wide variety of additional community focused events with a goal of providing Affordable, Family, FUN to Northeast Florida. Winners of many marketing and sales awards and recognition since the team was rebranded prior to the 2017 season, the Jumbo Shrimp continually lead the state of Florida in attendance across all minor league professional sports organizations.