After trailing 3-0 after five innings, the Sugar Land Space Cowboys (20-24) earned a 6-3 extra-inning victory over the Tacoma Rainiers (21-23) on Saturday night at Cheney Stadium, Sugar Land’s ninth extra-innings game of the season.
After three scoreless innings, Tacoma struck first in the fourth, capitalizing on an error, a double and a hit-by-pitch to load the bases before a groundout plated the game’s first run and gave the Rainiers a 1-0 lead. Tacoma added on in the fifth, stringing together three singles and a double to score twice and extend its advantage to 3-0.
Sugar Land responded in the seventh when Cavan Biggio and Jack Winkler worked walks to put two runners aboard**. Riley Unroe** delivered with his seventh double of the season, a line drive to center field that brought home Sugar Land’s first run. Daniel Johnson followed with a sacrifice fly to right, trimming the deficit to 3-2.
The Space Cowboys tied the game in the ninth when Biggio launched his fifth home run of the season, extending his on-base streak to 11 games and evening the score at 3-3.
Sugar Land took control in the 10th as Kellen Strahm singled home the go-ahead run before James Nelson reached on a single. The pair of Strahm and Nelson executed a double steal, and a throwing error allowed Strahm to race in and score an insurance run. Biggio added an RBI single to cap a three-run frame and give the Space Cowboys a 6-3 lead**. RHP Anthony Maldonado (S, 2)** held Tacoma scoreless in the bottom half of the inning to secure the comeback victory and snap its three-game skid.
NOTABLE:
- Cavan Biggio went 2-for-3 with a home run, two runs, two RBI, and two walks extending his on-base streak to 11 games. Over that stretch, Biggio is batting 12-for-35 (.343) with one double, four home runs, 12 RBI, nine walks and five runs scored.
- James Nelson went 2-for-5 on Saturday night extending his on-base streak to 24 straight games which is the fourth longest streak in Space Cowboys history.
- James Nelson ties a single-game franchise record with three stolen bases in Saturday night's game... It was the first time that a Space Cowboy had stolen three bases in a game since Shay Whitcomb on June 27, 2024 vs. Tacoma and the fourth time Sugar Land had a runner steal three bases in a game.
- Saturday night was the largest comeback win of the season for Sugar Land as they charged back from 3-0 down after five innings. It is also the first time this season the Space Cowboys had trailed after eight innings and won.
The Space Cowboys wrap up their series with Tacoma on Sunday afternoon. RHP Brandon McPherson is scheduled to start against LHP Jhonthan Diaz for an 8:05 pm CT first pitch. 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.