Pecko's Quality Start Helps Sugar Land To Shutout Win Over Oklahoma City

Hernandez Earns Save In Second-Straight Game

By Jordan Silversmith/ Space Cowboys

September 7, 2025

Behind 6.0 shutout innings from RHP Ethan Pecko (W, 1-2) and 2.1 scoreless frames from RHP Cody Bolton (H,1) in relief, the Sugar Land Space Cowboys (30-29, 69-65) blanked the Oklahoma City Comets (30-32, 76-61) 2-0 on Saturday night at Constellation Field. Saturday was Sugar Land’s ninth shutout of the

Behind 6.0 shutout innings from RHP Ethan Pecko (W, 1-2) and 2.1 scoreless frames from RHP Cody Bolton (H,1) in relief, the Sugar Land Space Cowboys (30-29, 69-65) blanked the Oklahoma City Comets (30-32, 76-61) 2-0 on Saturday night at Constellation Field. Saturday was Sugar Land’s ninth shutout of the season and their first since July 18 against the Salt Lake Bees.

Pecko worked around a lead-off single to post a scoreless top half of the first and fired a 1-2-3 top half of the second. Pecko stranded a runner on first in the third with an inning-ending strikeout as the right-hander retired nine of the first 11 batters he faced.

Pecko continued rolling with a clean top half of the fourth before the Space Cowboys threatened in the bottom half. Zach Cole led off the frame with a single, stole second and reached third on a wild pitch. However, Cole was tagged out trying to take home on a wild pitch as the teams stayed scoreless through four.

Sugar Land loaded the bases in the home half of the fifth as Zack Short was hit by a pitch, Edwin Díaz doubled and Miguel Palma was hit by a pitch. With one out in the inning, Pedro León legged out an infield single, plating Short as Sugar Land opened the scoring, 1-0. In the ensuing at-bat, Cole walked, bringing in another run as the Space Cowboys doubled their lead, 2-0.

Pecko closed out his start by striking out the side in the top of the sixth while stranding two runners in scoring position with one out. The right-hander recorded the first quality start of his career, going 6.0 shutout innings, scattering three hits with one walk and a Triple-A high eight strikeouts.

Pecko Perfection. pic.twitter.com/laWAvSMk1l
— Sugar Land Space Cowboys (@SLSpaceCowboys) September 7, 2025

Bolton entered in the top of the seventh and preserved Sugar Land’s 2-0 lead with a perfect frame on 12 pitches with eight strikes. In the top of the eighth, Bolton held the Comets off the board while leaving two runners on base.

For the second time tonight, Sugar Land loaded the bases as Shay Whitcomb singled while Brice Matthews and Jon Singleton drew back-to-back walks with one out. However, the Space Cowboys could not push their advantage as the runners were stranded.

After Bolton recorded the first out of the ninth, RHP Nick Hernandez (S, 11) picked up the final two outs of the frame to secure Sugar Land’s shutout victory, 2-0.

NOTABLE:

Ethan Pecko went a career-high 6.0 innings on Saturday without allowing a run while striking out eight batters, a Triple-A career high. Pecko has allowed only two earned runs in his last two starts across 11.0 innings of work. Pecko’s eight strikeouts were his highest total since June 24, 2024 when he punched out nine with Single-A Fayetteville.
Zach Cole recorded his third-straight game with multiple hits with a 2-for-3 night with a double, an RBI and a walk on Saturday. In 11 games with Sugar Land, Cole is batting 15-for-38 (.395) with three doubles, a triple, five home runs, 15 RBI, five walks and eight runs scored.
After picking up the final two outs of the ninth, Nick Hernandez has recorded a save in eight of his last nine outings and has converted his last eight save opportunities. Hernandez has posted three saves in Sugar Land’s series against Oklahoma City.
Edwin Díaz picked up his first multi-hit game since August 15 against the Salt Lake Bees with a 2-for-4 night with a double and a run scored. Díaz has recorded a hit in three-straight games.

Sugar Land’s six-game series finale versus the Comets begins on Sunday at 6:35 pm CT. RHP Miguel Ullola mans the mound for the second time this series opposite RHP Cristian Romero. The game can be seen live on the Bally Sports Live App or MLB.TV and can be heard anywhere at SLSpaceCowboys.com.

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 are the reigning Pacific Coast League Champions and Triple-A National Champions. They began playing as the Astros’ Triple-A affiliate in 2021 and began playing under the Space Cowboys brand in 2022. 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). Fans can purchase full-season and partial-season plans for 2025 by visiting slspacecowboys.com/tickets.