Water-Logged Opener Cools Titans in Extra Innings Defeat

OFFICIAL FRONTIER LEAGUE BOX SCORE

Ottawa, ON - Opening the final homestand of the campaign, the Ottawa Titans (51-39) fell 3-1 in extras to the New York Boulders (48-43) on Tuesday, as mother nature impacted yet another home game.

Once again, the Titans got fantastic starting pitching - as left-hander Grant Larson (ND, 6-4) tossed seven innings of one-run ball, giving the Titans a chance at a postseason berth. For the southpaw, it was his ninth quality outing of the season - and second in as many starts.

Playing for their playoff lives, the Boulders took advantage of a walk, as a Christian Ficca grounder seemed like it was destined to end the inning - but the ball ramped up off the lip of the grass and over the head of second baseman Jackie Urbaez, to score Ryan McCoy to make it 1-0.

The Titans' offence had a quick answer - as a leadoff walk and single stood on the corners for Taylor Wright, who tied the game at one with a sac fly to centre.

Both starters went toe-to-toe, with Boulders right-hander Blaine Traxel (ND, 6-5) facing the most traffic in the middle innings.

In the third, AJ Wright and Jackie Urbaez reached with one-out singles - but the meat of the order failed to cash in the go-ahead run.

The best chance for the Titans came in the seventh - as runners reached the corners with one away - as the skies opened up, sending the game into a rain delay of over an hour.

When play resumed - the Boulders handed the reigns to the bullpen - as Peter Allegro tossed an inning and two-thirds of scoreless relief.

Grant Larson did not head back out after the delay, going seven - allowing just one run on six hits, walking one, and striking out two in the no decision.

After two scoreless innings out of the bullpen from rookie southpaw Jake Dixon - the Titans had their opportunity to win it in the ninth.

Facing closer Dylan Smith (win, 7-2) - the Titans put two on with one down - but were unable to walk things off, as Lamar Briggs grounded into an inning-ending double play.

In extras, the Boulders took advantage of a throwing error with two on - as Michael Fuhrman attempted to back-pick the runner at first, as the ball hit off of runner Thomas Walraven and into the dugout, forcing home a run on a two-base error. Later, Nick Gotta smoked an RBI single up the gut off Erasmo Piñales (loss, 2-4) - to make it 3-1.

The Titans once again had multiple runners on in the tenth but failed to make things close - leaving a total of nine runners on in the loss.

The magic number for the Titans to qualify for the 2024 Frontier League Playoffs remains at two. A win on tomorrow, the Titans are in.

The Ottawa Titans continue the final homestand of the regular season, playing game two of a three-game set with the New York Boulders on Wednesday night at 6:30 p.m. from Ottawa Stadium. All the action can be heard on CKDJ 107.9 and 94,5 Unique FM and live-streamed on Flo Baseball.

For information on tickets, group outings, and the "All-In" Playoff Package, visit the Titans’ official website at www.ottawatitans.com.