Troy, NY – The Ottawa Titans (28-16) dropped a tight 7-6 matchup to the Tri-City ValleyCats on a special Fourth of July matchup at Joseph L. Bruno Stadium.

After a clean first, the ValleyCats poured on four runs in the bottom half against lefty Chris Burica (loss, 4-2). As two reached with one-out, Denis Phipps ripped the first offering he saw and blasted a three-run homer to left. Two batters later, Juan Silverio belted an opposite-field solo shot to right, making it 4-0 after one.

Jason Dicochea got one back for the Titans in the second, lining a base-hit up the middle to score a Taylor Wright leadoff walk against ValleyCats right-hander Joey Gonzalez (win, 4-0).

The ValleyCats added a two spot in the second, as Brantley Bell doubled home a run, then Jesus Lujano plated another on an RBI groundout.

As Burica and Gonzalez traded two scoreless innings, Tyrus Greene led off the fifth with a solo homer, making it 6-2. Greene’s first homer of the season marked his first big fly in his 132nd at-bat of the season.

Jace Mercer restored the five-run lead, driving in Phipps on a fielder’s choice in the bottom half of the fifth.

Burica finished the night going five complete, allowing seven runs on six hits, walking a season-high six, while striking out four in his second loss of the season.

The Titans began the comeback as Rodrigo Orozco led off the sixth inning with his sixth home run of the season, taking Gonzalez deep to right.

The former Astros farmhand in Gonzalez was spectacular on Monday, going six complete, allowing three runs on five hits, and fanning eight in the win.

Down by five and to their final three outs, Taylor Wright drew a leadoff walk against Brac Warren in the ninth. AJ Wright cashed in the lead-off walk with a double the opposite way to kick start the rally.

After Greene walked, ValleyCats skipper Pete Incaviglia went to the bullpen for Trey Cochran-Gill   (save, 7) with two on and nobody out. Jason Dicochea greeted Cochran-Gill by ripping a ground-rule double to left-centre to score one.

With runners at second and third with one out, Matt Feinstein pinch-hit and plated Greene with an RBI groundout.

Down 7-6 with two outs, the ValleyCats walked the reigning Player of the Week Jackie Urbaez to face Orozco. With the tying run 90 feet away, Cochran-Gill got Orozco to ground out to end the ball game.

In the loss, relievers Matt Terrones and Kevin Escorcia pitched three shutout innings to keep the game close. The Titans’ pitching staff limited the ValleyCats’ offence to just a run on two hits in the final six innings.

Following a 3-5 road trip, the Ottawa Titans return home to open a seven-game home stand with the first of three against the New Jersey Jackals tomorrow night a 6:30 p.m. Following a three-game series against New Jersey, the Titans welcome the Empire State Greys for a four-game set, which includes a double header on Friday beginning at 4:30 p.m.

For information on Ottawa Titans’ 2022 season tickets, group outings, and 8-game mini packs, visit the Titans’ official website at www.ottawatitans.com.

The post Early runs burn Titans, drop one-run affair to ValleyCats first appeared on Ottawa Titans Baseball Club.