In his first game since being named the Astros Minor League Player of the Year, Jason Schiavone launched his first Triple-A home run, but the Sugar Land Space Cowboys (40-30, 72-72) fell to the Las Vegas Aviators (40-30, 84-59) in game one of their six-game series Tuesday night at Constellation Field.
After RHP Jason Alexander utilized just 15 pitches to retire the side in order through the first two innings, the Space Cowboys opened the scoring in the bottom of the second. Cavan Biggio led off the inning with a double before Zach Dezenzo followed with a double to deep center field, plating Biggio to give Sugar Land an early 1-0 lead.
The Aviators scored three runs in the top of the third inning before adding to their lead in the fourth. Back-to-back singles put runners on the corners before Davis Diaz connected on an RBI single to center, extending the Las Vegas advantage to 4-1.
With one out in the bottom of the fifth, Schiavone connected on his first Triple-A home run, sending a solo shot to right field to cut the Space Cowboy deficit to 4-2.
Johnathan Rodriguez led off the top of the sixth inning with a solo home run to extend Las Vegas’ lead before Alexander responded by retiring the next three he faced to cap his outing. The righty hurled 6.0 innings, allowing six hits and five runs while walking two and striking out six.
Sugar Land threatened in the bottom half of the frame as Pascanel Ferreras crushed a double to right field before advancing to third on a groundout. However, a strikeout and a flyout ended the inning, stranding Ferreras at third.
The Space Cowboys got three scoreless innings from the bullpen to stay within reach. RHP Alimber Santa worked around two baserunners to record a scoreless seventh inning while striking out one. After allowing the first two batters he faced to reach, RHP Alex Santos II retired three straight, striking out two to keep Las Vegas off the board. RHP Nic Swanson induced a groundout before striking out the final two batters he faced to complete a perfect ninth inning and keep Sugar Land within three.
RHP Taylor Rashi took the mound for the Aviators in the bottom of the ninth, retiring the first two batters on flyouts before striking out the final batter, retiring the side in order in the final inning.
NOTABLE:
- Jason Schiavone went 1-for-2 with a home run and a walk in Tuesday’s series opener. The homer was his first at the Triple-A level and his first since September 2, when he homered for Corpus Christi against Springfield. Schiavone’s home run left the bat at 109.1 mph, the hardest-hit ball of the game.
- Pascanel Ferreras went 1-for-4 with a double on Tuesday night extending his on-base streak to 12 games. His double was his 24th of the season since making his Sugar Land debut on June 2. His 24 doubles are tied with Albuquerque’s Zac Veen for the second-most in the Pacific Coast League over that span.
- RHP Jason Alexander spun 6.0 innings, allowing six hits and five runs while walking two and striking out six. His 6.0-inning outing on Tuesday evening marked the fifth time this season he has thrown at least 6.0 innings and his first time at home since April 12 against Tacoma.
- Zach Dezenzo went 1-for-3 with a double and an RBI, extending his on-base streak to 10 consecutive games. Over that span, Dezenzo is 7-for-30 with two doubles, four RBIs, nine walks and four runs scored.
- RHP Alex Santos II made his third consecutive scoreless appearance Tuesday night. Santos II has held opponents scoreless in seven of his nine outings since being promoted to Sugar Land on August 22. In nine appearances with the Space Cowboys, Santos II has thrown 11.0 innings, allowing three hits and three runs, one earned, while walking six and striking out 18.
The Space Cowboys will look to even their series against the Aviators on Wednesday night. RHP Brandon McPherson will take the mound for Sugar Land across RHP Kade Morris for Las Vegas with first pitch scheduled for 7:05 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 2027 season are available now and can be purchased at slspacecowboys.com/tickets.