Little Falls, NJ – The Ottawa Titans (22-7) used seven strong innings from right-hander Jose Taveras (win, 2-0) and a pair of RBI’s from AJ Wright to take a 5-3 final over the New Jersey Jackals on Saturday night.

Following a lead-off strikeout of Jackie Urbaez by Jackals’ righty Nicholas DeSalvo (loss, 0-1), AJ Wright stepped to the plate and launched a solo shot over the wall in left-centre to have the visitors in front.

Taveras cruised through the first three innings, until the top of the Jackals order connected for four straight hits, plating three in the fourth. Dalton Combs and Alfredo Marte tagged Taveras for a three-spot, giving the Jackals a 3-1 lead after four.

In the fifth, Andrew Martinez stood aboard with a one-out walk for Jason Dicochea, who cranked a DeSalvo offering to the wall in centre, scoring the Titans’ shortstop to cut the deficit to one.

After a walk to Will Zimmerman and a hit by pitch of Mitsuki Fukuda loaded the bases with one out, the Jackals went to the bullpen for Gage Smart. The lineup turned over for Urbaez who flew out to deep left, scoring Dicochea to tie the game at three.

Wright followed the Urbaez sac fly with a base hit up the middle, scoring Zimmerman from second to put the Titans back in front for good.

The Titans’ offence didn’t let up after the three-run fifth and loaded the bases once more in the sixth, as Fukuda drew a walk to score Sanford.

The runs in the middle innings would be all that Taveras would need on Saturday, as the righty went seven strong, allowing three runs on six hits, and struck out six for his second win of the season.

Nelson Gonzalez (save, 1) came out of the bullpen and worked two clean innings, allowing one hit, and struck out two to close out the game.

With the win, the Titans are victorious for a fourth straight game, win their tenth series of the year, and sit atop of the Frontier League’s East Division.

The Ottawa Titans go for the series sweep tomorrow afternoon in the finale of their three-game series against the New Jersey Jackals at 2:05 p.m. from Yogi Berra Stadium in Little Falls, New Jersey. The club returns home for a six-game homestand beginning on Tuesday at 6:30 p.m., to face the Sussex County Miners.

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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