SUGAR LAND, Texas (Interstat) — The Sugar Land Space Cowboys erupted for seven runs in the first two innings and cruised to an 8-1 victory over the Round Rock Express on Sunday evening, completing a season-opening sweep at Constellation Field.

A crowd of 3,887 watched the Space Cowboys improve to 2-0, while the Express fell to 0-2. The game time was 2 hours, 29 minutes.

The most important part of the game came swiftly, as Sugar Land batted around and scored four times in the bottom of the first inning against Round Rock starter and losing pitcher Cal Quantrill. After loading the bases with one out on a walk and two singles, Quantrill walked CJ Alexander to force in the first run. Shortstop Jack Winkler then delivered the decisive blow, clearing the bases with a three-run double on a sharp line drive to left field for a 4-0 lead.

Sugar Land continued the onslaught in the second inning, adding three more runs. Taylor Trammell led off with a triple and scored on Shay Whitcomb’s double. After a strikeout, designated hitter Carlos Pérez drove in Whitcomb with another double. Winkler followed with an RBI single, scoring Pérez to extend the lead to 7-0.

Winkler finished 2-for-4 with four RBIs, making him the offensive standout. Pérez added two hits, including a solo home run to left field in the seventh inning that provided Sugar Land’s final run.

The early offensive support was more than enough for Sugar Land’s pitching staff. Starter Spencer Arrighetti did not factor in the decision but set the tone with three scoreless innings. Winning pitcher Enyel De Los Santos followed with two perfect innings of relief, striking out one. Peter Lambert earned his first save of the season with a scoreless ninth.

Round Rock’s offense was stifled, managing just five hits. The Express avoided a shutout by scoring a single run in the eighth inning. Alejandro Osuna led off with a double, advanced to third on a single by Jonah Bride and scored on Tyler Wade’s sacrifice fly to left field.

Quantrill took the loss for Round Rock, allowing seven runs on six hits and three walks over just 1 2/3 innings. The Express bullpen, using five relievers including Ryan Brasier, Mason Thompson, Patrick Murphy, Josh Sborz and Luis Curvelo, combined to allow one run over the final 6 1/3 innings.

The victory gave Sugar Land a sweep of the brief two-game set after a 3-2 win on Saturday. The result defied the pregame projection from Interstat’s game simulator, which had forecast a 5-3 Round Rock victory. The system’s ELO rating gave Sugar Land a 52.3% probability to win.

Round Rock opens a six-game homestand against the Gwinnett Stripers on Tuesday. Sugar Land begins a six-game road series against the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp the same day.