Marte’s walk-off homer sinks Titans in series-opening loss

Little Falls, NJ – Alfredo Marte’s lead-off solo homer in the ninth capped off the comeback as the New Jersey Jackals walked off the Ottawa Titans (25-12) by a 5-4 final on Tuesday night.

All seemed promising after a half-inning with the first three reaching off Jackals starter Jorge Tavarez (ND, 4-2). Jason Dicochea led off the ball game by smacking a double to the wall in right, followed by a Rodrigo Orozco walk, and an AJ Wright opposite-field single. The bases were juiced for Jake Sanford, who was plunked on the foot by Tavarez, plating the game’s first run.

The Titans continued to rally, as Tyrus Greene drove in Orozco on an RBI groundout, followed by newcomer Matt Feinstein cashing in Wright on a sacrifice fly. Taylor Wright scored Sanford with a double, making it 4-0 after a half-inning.

Zac Westcott (ND, 5-1) took to the hill on Tuesday, facing the minimum through two. The Jackals got on the board in the third with three-straight two-out hits, as Alfredo Marte and Justin Wylie cut the deficit in half at 4-2.

The Titans’ offence fell into a cold spell through the late innings, only recording three hits over the final eight innings of the ballgame.

Josh Rehwaldt got the Jackals within one in the last of the sixth, crushing a Westcott offering over the wall in right for a solo homer.

Westcott’s night came to an end following six innings of three-run ball, allowing a season-high tying nine hits, and striking out seven.

The Titans starter left in line for the win, until the eighth, where Jason Agresti singled to right and advanced to second following a misplay in left by Feinstein, putting the tying run in scoring position.

Left-hander Grant Larson rolled a slow-rolling ground ball off the bat of Santiago Chirino to the left side of the infield, but AJ Wright was unable to make the play, as the Jackals scored the tying run.

In the ninth, Dicochea grounded a two-out single to right and was replaced by Jacob Talamante, who later stole second. Jackals righty Jose Ramirez (win, 1-0) fanned the final two batters in the ninth, stranding the potential go-ahead run in scoring position.

Jack Alkire (loss, 0-3) came on for the ninth and was greeted by Marte to lead-off the frame. Behind in the count 1-2, Marte blasted the game-winning solo shot over the wall in right, capping off the Jackals come from behind victory.

The Ottawa Titans continue their eight-game road trip with the second of three against the New Jersey Jackals on Wednesday at 7:05 p.m. from Yogi Berra Stadium in Little Falls, New Jersey.

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 Marte’s walk-off homer sinks Titans in series-opening loss first appeared on Ottawa Titans Baseball Club.