May 21, 2024

Official Ottawa Titans News Release

Ottawa, Ont. - Trailing by one in the bottom of the ninth, the Ottawa Titans stormed back by scoring a pair, taking their 2024 Home Opener over the Tri-City ValleyCats by a 7-6 final on Tuesday.

The party started early in the bottom of the first, with AJ Wright blasting a lead-off solo home run off Jhon Vargas onto Coventry Road, giving the home side an early 1-0 lead. Wright's second of the season marked the second time in four games in which he hit a lead-off homer. He also has blasted a round-tripper in three straight Home Openers.

After getting the side in order with ease in the first, Tyler Jandron fell into trouble in the top of the second - as the ValleyCats took a 3-1 lead. Robbie Merced tied the game with a single before Ryan Cash ripped a go-ahead two-run single later in the frame.

In the bottom half, Taylor Wright (North Vancouver, B.C.) hammered his first long ball of the season over the right field wall against Vargas, making it a one-run contest.

The Titans used the momentum from some spectacular defence in the series opener to take back the lead in the fourth. Michael Fuhrman ripped a double to right to plate one before AJ Wright brought home his second of the game with an RBI groundout. Jake Sanford(Cole Harbour, N.S.) extended the lead with an RBI ground ball of his own in the fifth, making it 5-3.

Getting production once again from the bottom of the order, the ValleyCats responded against Jandron in the top of the sixth - plating two runs on three hits, tying up the score at five.

Celebrating his 29th birthday, Jandron exited after 6 1/3 - allowing five runs on nine hits, walking three, and punching out four in his first start for the Titans at home since Game 1 of the 2022 FLDS.

With a scoreless 1 2/3 innings from Matt Dallas - the ValleyCats took the lead in the top of the ninth against Matt Voelker - scoring the go-ahead run on a sac fly.

Sending the top of the order to the plate down by one, two stood aboard as Jamey Smart ripped his second hit of the game up the middle to score AJ Wright - making it 6-6. Next, newly named captain Jason Dicochea snuck one inside the third base bag and into left to score the winning run.

The Titans continue their first home series of the 2024 season with the middle game of the three-game set against the Tri-City ValleyCats on Wednesday night at 6:30 p.m. from Ottawa Stadium.