Slow start deflates Titans in loss to Capitales

Ottawa, ON – Following three doubles in the first, the Ottawa Titans (35-22) couldn’t claw their way back in a 5-3 loss to the Quebec Capitales on Saturday night.

Left-hander Chris Burica (loss, 5-3) surrendered a trio of doubles to David Glaude, Tristan Pompey, and TJ White in the first, as the Capitales’ top portion of the lineup quickly got an early lead at 2-0.

In the third, Jeffry Parra laced a solo homer over the wall in dead centre to extend the lead. Yoelkis Guibert then drove home his second in as many days in the fourth, plating a Kyle Crowl single to make it 4-0.

Ahead early, lefty Joel Huertas (win, 1-0) limited the Titans to just three hits over the first four innings. Looking to get back in the game, Tyrus Greene lined a Huertas offering down the left-field line but was thrown out by Pompey in left trying for a double.

The Titans broke through in the sixth as two reached with one out. AJ Wright got the home side on the board, scoring Jackie Urbaez on a fielder’s choice to make it 4-1.

In the seventh, the Titans loaded the bases against Huertas, and Jacob Talamante drew a walk to score a run. As the Capitales made the call to the bullpen for Ian Codina to face the pinch hitter Taylor Wright, the Canadian made it a one-run game, scoring Rodrigo Orozco on a fielder’s choice.

The end of the line saw Burica go seven innings on Saturday, allowing four runs on nine hits, walking one, and striking out seven in the loss.

Gavin Sonnier relieved Burica in the eighth and served up an opposite-field solo homer off the bat of White, making it a 5-3 game.

In the ninth, the Titans once again made it interesting against Nick Horvath (save, 2) with a leadoff single from Greene. Following a pair of strikeouts, Urbaez doubled to right to put the potential tying run in scoring position. Horvath managed to strike out a fellow Orioles farmhand in Fisher to retire the side.

Greene finished the game 3-for-4, extending his on-base streak to 20 games, while Jason Dicochea had a multi-hit effort. The Titans’ losing streak reaches four, as the Capitales extend their lead to 6.5 in the East Division by winning their eleventh in a row.

The Ottawa Titans wrap up the first half of the Frontier League schedule with the series finale against the Quebec Capitales tomorrow afternoon at 1:00 p.m. at Ottawa Stadium. The All-Star break will see the Titans have four days off before opening the second half next Friday against the Lake Erie Crushers.

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

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