Larson backs Titans to series split with ValleyCats

Ottawa, ON – Grant Larson (win, 6-4) tossed four shutout innings out of the bullpen, fueling an Ottawa Titans (49-38) come from behind 3-2 victory over the Tri-City ValleyCats on Thursday night.

Evan Grills (ND, 4-6) retired seven of the first eight he faced on the night before a one-out walk to Austin Bernard in the top of the third. The lefty was removed from the game following an apparent lower-body injury.

Summoned into a tough spot, Gavin Sonnier recorded the second out on a fielder’s choice. Next, Brantley Bell lifted his 23rd homer of the year over the wall in left, putting the ValleyCats ahead 2-0. Leaving in line for the loss, Grills went two and a third, allowing one run, on no hits, walking one, and striking out four.

Offensively, the Titans put traffic on the base paths over the first three innings against righty Joey Gonzalez (ND, 8-2), but failed to score. In the fourth, Gonzalez allowed the bases to load up with nobody out for Clay Fisher.

Looking for a breakthrough, Fisher cashed in a run with a fielder’s choice to left. With two on and one out, the Titans executed a double steal. Austin Bernard airmailed the throw into left field, allowing Jason Dicochea to score, tying the game at two. After an appeal of batter’s interference, the call stood, and the game officially was tied.

After Sonnier’s inning and two-thirds, Grant Larson mowed through the ValleyCats’ lineup over four innings. The lefty only allowed a single to Pavin Parks and wound up facing the minimum. Larson’s big outing saw the southpaw strikeout three, in his longest relief appearance of the season.

Neil Abbatiello (loss, 3-4) relieved Gonzalez in the eighth. The former Astros farmhand went seven innings, allowing one earned run, on five hits, walking two, and striking out four.

Jake Sanford lined a single to right with one away, as Tyrus Greene reached on an E7. The ValleyCats brought in righty Brett Hanewich, who got Dicochea to fly out for the second out. Fisher followed suit with a single that bounced into left, scoring Sanford to put the Titans ahead 3-2.

With a go-ahead run in the eighth for the second consecutive night, Kevin Escorcia (save, 15) struck out a pair to lock down the victory in the ninth.

Earning a split, the Titans now sit just a half-game back of the final playoff spot in the East Division, with nine games to go.

The Titans continue a 10-game homestand with the first of a three-game set on Friday night against the Empire State Greys at 6:30 p.m. from Ottawa Stadium. All the action can be heard locally on CKDJ 107.9 and 94,5 Unique FM, while also being available worldwide at CKDJ.net and uniquefm.ca.

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 Larson backs Titans to series split with ValleyCats first appeared on Ottawa Titans Baseball Club.