Sugar Land Space Cowboys at Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (Interstat) — Miguel Ullola dominated over 5 2/3 innings and the Sugar Land Space Cowboys used a pair of late home runs to secure a 5-2 victory over the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp on Tuesday night at 121 Financial Ballpark.
The Space Cowboys remained perfect on the young season, improving to 3-0, while the Jumbo Shrimp fell to 1-2.
The most important sequence of the game came in the bottom of the sixth inning, just as Jacksonville threatened to erase Sugar Land’s lead. Ullola, who had been nearly untouchable, allowed a two-out single to Andrew Pintar. Deyvison De Los Santos then connected on a two-run homer to left field, cutting Sugar Land’s lead to 3-2 and representing the only damage against the Sugar Land starter. Ullola was removed immediately after the homer, having allowed just that one hit while striking out seven.
Ullola earned the win, moving to 1-0. His performance set the tone, as Space Cowboys pitchers combined to allow only two hits to the Jacksonville lineup. Relievers Hudson Leach, Anthony Maldonado and Jayden Murray closed the door, with Murray working a perfect ninth for his first save of the season.
Sugar Land’s offense, which produced 11 hits, provided early support. They broke a scoreless tie in the fourth when Cavan Biggio singled and scored on a double by Riley Unroe. The lead expanded in the fifth when Taylor Trammell walked and CJ Alexander followed with a two-run homer to right-center field off Jacksonville starter Ryan Gusto.
Gusto took the loss, falling to 0-1. He worked five innings, allowing three runs on seven hits while striking out seven.
Jacksonville reliever Jack Ralston kept the game close with two scoreless frames, but the Space Cowboys added crucial insurance in the ninth against Tyler Zuber. Collin Price led off with a solo homer to left, and two batters later, Trammell followed with a solo shot to right, pushing the lead to 5-2.
Trammell was a catalyst all night for Sugar Land, finishing a perfect 3-for-3 with a home run, a double, a walk, two runs scored and an RBI.
The Jumbo Shrimp, who were projected by Interstat’s ELO system to have a 57.10 percent probability to win, could not solve the Sugar Land pitching staff beyond De Los Santos’ blast. The game time was 2:34 in front of an announced crowd of 2,241.
The two teams continue their six-game series Wednesday night in Jacksonville.