GIDDY-UP!
Astros minor league affiliate blasts off with new spacey name
Jan 19, 2022, 2:33 pm
The Skeeters will have a new name for the 2022 season. SugarLandSkeeters/Facebook
The Houston Astros Triple A affiliate will soon have a new name. While it be tempting to call them the Gangsters of Love, that name won't be on the jerseys.
Instead, the team will announce that the Sugar Land Skeeters will become the Space Cowboys, according to multiple media reports. Images of a potential new logo have been circulating online.
HOW 'BOUT THEM SPACE COWBOYS! pic.twitter.com/oEqJdPka6M
— Michael Garfield 🤘 (@garf) January 19, 2022
An event on Saturday, January 29, at Constellation Field will make the change official. Held from 4-7 pm, it will introduce the team's new mascot, logo, and uniforms. In addition, Astros prospects Brett Conine, Chad Donato, JP France, Korey Lee, and JJ Matijevic as well as Sugar Land manager Mickey Storey will make appearances and hold autograph sessions.
The event also features live music. No word yet on whether Steve Miller Band is on the setlist. A fireworks display will close out the evening.
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The Houston Astros return to action Tuesday night in West Sacramento, looking to even their series with the Athletics after a tough loss in the opener. Though the Astros remain in first place in the AL West at 41-31, they’ve yet to find their full rhythm on the road, entering this matchup with a 14-18 record away from home.
Houston turns to recently recalled right-hander Jason Alexander, who will be making his fifth appearance of the season — but his first in an Astros uniform. All four of his previous outings in 2025 came with the A's, where he posted an 18.00 ERA across six innings.
With the Astros riding a recent stretch of strong pitching — boasting a 2.60 team ERA over their last 10 games — Alexander will try to keep the rotation’s momentum going.
Oakland counters with JP Sears, a lefty who’s logged a 5-5 record and 5.08 ERA this season. While the numbers don’t jump off the page, Sears has shown flashes of dependability and will be facing a Houston lineup that’s starting to click. The Astros are hitting .261 over their last 10 games and have gone 13-4 in games where they’ve launched at least two home runs — a trend they’ll hope continues in this one.
The Athletics, meanwhile, come in at 30-44 overall and 13-23 at home. But despite their struggles, they’ve gone 6-4 over their last 10, getting solid production from their pitching staff, which has posted a 3.06 ERA during that stretch. Oakland’s offense has been led by Brent Rooker, who enters the game with 15 home runs and a .491 slugging percentage. Max Muncy has also been a bright spot lately, with four home runs and 11 RBIs in his last 10 games.
For Houston, veteran second baseman/left fielder Jose Altuve continues to lead the charge. The former MVP has 10 doubles and 11 home runs on the year and remains one of the most reliable bats in the Astros lineup.
Tuesday night marks the fourth meeting of the season between these division rivals, with the Athletics currently holding a 1-0 edge in the series. First pitch is set for 10:05 p.m. EDT, as the Astros look to get back on track and reassert their dominance in the AL West.
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