Minor league baseball update: Matijevic drives in 8 runs; Kokoska on a tear
While JJ Matijevic is waiting for his next call-up to the Houston Astros, the former Norwin star is giving Sugar Land Space Cowboys fans their money’s worth.
Matijevic, back in Triple-A after seeing action in 32 games last season and earning a World Series ring with Houston as a member of the taxi squad, had a memorable game Tuesday night.
Matijevic delivered a career-high eight RBIs as Sugar Land slammed the Albuquerque Isotopes, 14-4.
The 27-year-old lefty went 5 for 6 with two triples, a double and two runs. He had 10 total bases.
Turns out JJ wasn't done ????
5 Hits.
8(!!!!) RBIOne incredible night #ReadyToRide pic.twitter.com/YP9cOhRj2b
— Sugar Land Space Cowboys (@SLSpaceCowboys) May 3, 2023
JJ Matijevic set a career high and a Space Cowboys record with 8 RBI and 5 hits, part of a monster night for Sugar Land as they started May with a bang.
Recap ???? | https://t.co/embR65tutb pic.twitter.com/PYNdiANhxK
— Sugar Land Space Cowboys (@SLSpaceCowboys) May 3, 2023
In 18 games this season, the newly married Matijevic is hitting .307 and leads the team in hits (23), triples (3), home runs (4), RBIs (19), slugging (.613) and OPS (.955).
Kokoska’s hot streak
Latrobe alum Zach Kokoska, a 2021 10th-round draft pick of the Colorado Rockies, has been on a tear at the plate for the High-Class-A Spokane Indians.
Kokoska is 8 for his last 16 with six runs, two home runs and four RBIs.
On Tuesday night, the 24-year-old launched a no-doubt homer in an 11-6 loss to the Eugene Emeralds. The ball landed on a field house rooftop over the right field fence at PK Park, home of the University of Oregon baseball team.
???????????????? ????????????????. @zach_kokoska followed with this absolute moonshot to complete the back-to-back ????. #GoSpo pic.twitter.com/axtUGZYU8m
— Spokane Indians (@spokaneindians) May 3, 2023
The third-year minor-leaguer has a .289 average, three homers and seven RBIs in 15 games this season.
Koko has been going loco at the plate over his last five games: .500 (8-for-16), 6 R, 2B, 2 HR, 4 RBI, SB. #GoSpo pic.twitter.com/ZnfxYtojOB
— Spokane Indians (@spokaneindians) May 3, 2023
Bill Beckner Jr. is a TribLive reporter covering local sports in Westmoreland County. He can be reached at bbeckner@triblive.com.
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