July 29, 2022

Official Ottawa Titans News Release

Ottawa, Ont. - Leading 2-0 after three, the Ottawa Titans surrendered the lead in the late innings, dropping a 6-3 decision in the rubber match to the Washington Wild Things on Thursday night.

Veteran starters Evan Grills (Whitby, Ont.) and Rob Whalen went toe-to-toe over the first two innings, allowing a combined two hits in the process.

After two reached in the bottom of the third, the Wild Things defence was brought in as Rodrigo Orozco cashed in the opening run with an infield single. Matt Feinstein's RBI base hit to left doubled the lead off Whalen, scoring Jackie Urbaez. With the single, Feinstein is now 6-for-16 since being activated from the injured list last week.

The Wild Things scored the first of four unanswered with Scotty Dubrule's RBI single in the fifth. The third time through the lineup burned the Titans starter, with the visitors putting up a three spot in the sixth. Tristan Peterson's second homer of the season tied the score, before Nick Ward and Jared Mang put the Wild Things in front by a pair.

With the four unanswered runs, Whalen would only allow one more run on Thursday. AJ Wright pulled the Titans within a tally with an RBI ground out in the bottom of the sixth. Wright finished the night 2-for-4, snapping an 0-for-15 in the process.

Looking to pull level with a pair on, the Wild Things turned to lefty Kenny Pierson (save, 1), to face Rodrigo Orozco, who flew out to end the threat.

After 7 1/3 innings from Grills, the lefty gave up a season-high twelve hits in the loss but also fanned seven on the night. Gavin Sonnier got the final two outs to end the eighth inning, before Kevin Escorcia allowed a pair of runs in the ninth.

Pierson worked a scoreless ninth, preserving Whalen's league-leading 11th win of the season, sending the rubber match to the Wild Things at a 6-3 final.

The Ottawa Titans return to action tomorrow night for the first of three against the Schaumburg Boomers at 7:30 p.m. E.T. from Wintrust Field. After three against the defending champs, the Titans take on the Tri-City ValleyCats for a three-game set.