Space Cowboys Pound Aces in PCL Championship Opener, Take 1-0 Series Lead

Written by MAi' Ghen Storm, SFL Writer | Photo credit: Oscar Hererra, SFL Photographer

The Sugar Land Space Cowboys wasted no time putting on a show in the first game of the Pacific Coast League Championship series, pummeling the Reno Aces 14-2 on Tuesday night at Constellation Field. With the win, Sugar Land sits just one victory away from claiming their first-ever PCL title.

The Space Cowboys' offense erupted early, with Trey Cabbage launching a solo home run in the second inning off Aces' starter Tommy Henry (L, 0-1). Jacob Melton followed suit later in the inning, belting a two-run homer to extend Sugar Land's lead to 3-0.

The dominance continued in the third. A double by Jesús Bastidas, a single from Pedro León, and a throwing error put runners on second and third with no outs. A sacrifice fly by Zach Dezenzo plated Bastidas, and back-to-back RBI doubles from Cooper Hummel and Tommy Sacco Jr. pushed the score to 6-0.

RHP AJ Blubaugh (W, 1-0) was lights-out on the mound for the Space Cowboys. He cruised through the first five innings, allowing only one hit before surrendering a two-run homer to Adrian Del Castillo in the sixth. Blubaugh exited after issuing two walks, but relievers Logan VanWey and Nick Hernandez shut down the Aces' offense for the rest of the night.

The sixth inning belonged entirely to Sugar Land. After Austin Pope loaded the bases with walks and a hit batter, a parade of walks and a clutch single by Brice Matthews plated six runs, extending the lead to 12-2.

The Space Cowboys tacked on two more runs in the eighth on doubles by Hummel and Sacco Jr., followed by an RBI single from Matthews.

Sugar Land looks to clinch the championship on Wednesday night in game two. RHP Ryan Gusto takes the mound for the Space Cowboys against Reno's RHP Humberto Castellanos. First pitch is set for 7:05 pm CT.