After seeing a three-run disappear in the top of the ninth inning, the Sugar Land Space Cowboys (24-8, 56-50) found another walk-off win to claim an 8-7 victory over the Salt Lake Bees (10-22, 49-57) on Saturday night at Constellation Field.
Leading 7-4 heading to the top of the ninth inning, Sugar land saw Salt Lake battle to even the score. Omar Martinez knocked an RBI single to right field, bringing home Pablo Reyes. Nelson Rada followed with a groundout double play that allowed Yolmer Sánchez to score before Gustavo Campero launched a solo home run to center field to tie the game at seven.
Sugar Land answered in the bottom of the ninth. Joey Loperfido led off the inning with a double to put the winning run in scoring position, and Raynel Delgado delivered the walk off with an RBI double to left, sending the Space Cowboys to a thrilling 8-7 victory.
The Space Cowboys struck first in the second inning when Delgado opened the frame with a single. CJ Alexander followed with a base hit to move Delgado to third before Braden Shewmake grounded out to first, allowing Delgado to score and giving Sugar Land an early 1-0 lead.
Salt Lake answered in the third inning, using back-to-back singles and a hit-by-pitch to load the bases. Niko Kavadas then launched a grand slam to right field, putting the Bees ahead 4-1.
Sugar Land responded immediately in the bottom of the fourth with a five-run outburst. Shewmake started the rally with a double before Garret Guillemette drew a walk. Cavan Biggio then ripped a two-run triple to cut the deficit to one, followed by Loperfido’s RBI double to tie the game. Shay Whitcomb capped the comeback with an RBI single to center, putting Sugar Land back in front, 6-5.
The Space Cowboys added insurance in the seventh inning when Loperfido and Whitcomb both singled to reach base before Alexander delivered an RBI double, extending the lead to 7-4.https://x.com/SLSpaceCowboys/status/2083728391346307105
NOTABLE:
- Shay Whitcomb went 3-for-5 with an RBI and a run scored, extending his on-base streak to 14 games. Whitcomb has also recorded a hit in 13 of his last 14 games and has recorded an RBI in five straight games. During the series against the Bees, 9-for-21 (.429/.455) with a triple, two home runs, 10 RBI and six runs scored.
- RHP Jackson Nezuh struck out nine batters over 4.1 innings on Saturday night, his second consecutive outing in which he has struck out nine hitters. It is also tied for the most strikeouts in a single game by a Space Cowboys hurler this year.
- The Space Cowboys pitching staff struck out 15 batters on Saturday night. It is their sixth consecutive game striking out at least 13 batters, the first time Sugar Land has recorded at least 13 strikeouts in six-straight games in franchise history.
- Joey Loperfido went 4-for-4 with two doubles, an RBI and three runs scored on Saturday night. It was the second game in his career in which he has recorded at least four hits and the first since he went 5-for-6 on June 9, 2022 with Fayetteville.
- Raynel Delgado’s walk-off double was part of a 2-for-3 night for the second baseman with a double, an RBI, a run scored, a walk and a sacrifice bunt. Delgado has now hit safely in seven of his last eight games and has multi-hit efforts in back-to-back contests and four of his last five games. Over his last eight appearances, Delgado is 11-for-26 (.423/.516) with two doubles, a triple, a home run, four RBI, three runs scored and five walks to three strikeouts.
- RHP Logan VanWey fired a perfect eighth inning on Saturday night, striking out two to record his 11th hold of the season. He now leads the Pacific Coast League in holds in 2026.
- In his first game with Sugar Land since resigning with the Astros, Braden Shewmake 1-for-3 with a double and an RBI.
- The Space Cowboys set a franchise record for walk-off wins on Saturday night, earning their 11th walk-off victory of the season.
- After Saturday’s victory the Space Cowboys are now one win away from their first sweep of the season.
With the potential to claim their first sweep of the season, the Sugar Land Space Cowboys conclude their six-game series against the Salt Lake Bees on Sunday night. RHP Ethan Pecko is scheduled to start for Sugar Land, while Salt Lake has not named a starter. First pitch is scheduled for 6:35 pm CT. The game can be seen on the Bally Sports Live app and MiLB.TV and 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.