Space Cowboys Rally for Dramatic Comeback Victory Over Aces

 

The Sugar Land Space Cowboys (19-8) overcame an early deficit to defeat the Reno Aces (12-14) by a score of 10-5 on Sunday afternoon at Greater Nevada Field. This victory capped off a dominant series win for Sugar Land, taking five out of six games against the Aces.

The Aces wasted no time jumping on the board, plating two runs in the first inning off of Sugar Land starter AJ Blubaugh. However, Blubaugh settled down and tossed two scoreless innings after that shaky start.

In the top of the third, Joey Loperfido launched a solo home run, his league-leading 13th of the season, to cut the deficit to 2-1. Reno answered back with a run each in the third and fourth innings to extend their lead to 4-1.

Undeterred, the Space Cowboys chipped away at the lead. Jesús Bastidas brought them within one with a solo homer in the sixth inning. Reno responded with a solo shot of their own in the bottom half, but Sugar Land wasn't done yet.

The eighth inning saw a dramatic comeback for the Space Cowboys. Bastidas doubled to kick things off, followed by a run-scoring double from Shay Whitcomb. Back-to-back doubles by Will Wagner and César Salazar put Sugar Land ahead for the first time in the game, 5-4. Luke Berryhill added an insurance run with a single, extending the lead to 7-5.

The ninth inning saw another Sugar Land rally. After loading the bases with a double, intentional walk, and single, a fielding error by Reno allowed a run to score. A sacrifice fly by Salazar plated another run, followed by a base hit from Cooper Hummel to make it 10-5. Relief pitcher Wander Suero shut the door in the bottom of the ninth to secure the victory for Sugar Land.

Despite allowing three runs in the first inning, Blubaugh pitched a solid game, lasting four innings. The bullpen shut down the Aces' offense, with Joel Kuhnel earning the win and Ray Gaither picking up the hold. Suero collected the save.