Ottawa, ON – Looking to stay on a roll, the Ottawa Titans (50-38) doubled up the Empire State Greys 6-3 on Friday night, taking the series opener.

Leading off the night, Jose Mercado reached on an E6 to put the pressure on early. Zac Westcott (win, 10-3) walked Robbie Carling to put two on, as Manny Garcia looped in a single to centre, opening up the scoring.

Liam McArthur kicked off the night offensively with a triple to the corner in right off Jay Palais (loss, 0-5) in the bottom half of the first. Jackie Urbaez tied the ballgame up with a double to left-centre, scoring McArthur. Two batters later, Jake Sanford gave the Titans the lead with an RBI groundout.

Garcia would bring the game level with another RBI single in the top of the third, cashing in Mercado’s leadoff double.

The Titans got back-to-back one-out singles from Sanford and Tyrus Greene in the fifth, setting up a go-ahead two-run double from Jason Dicochea.

Willies Estrada cut the deficit to one with a solo blast to right-centre off Westcott in the fourth. The Titans’ righty locked in after the homer, retiring 8 of the final 10 he faced. Westcott’s night would come to an end after seven complete, allowing three runs, two earned, on eight hits, and striking out eight for his 10th victory of the season.

With one down in the fifth, Sanford crushed his first of two homers on the night with a solo shot. Recording his first homer in 23 games, Sanford put the Titans in front 5-3.

Palais got the hook after six, allowing five runs, on eight hits, walking three, and striking out two in the loss.

Sanford belted his second homer of the night in the seventh off righty Locke Bernhardt. The Dartmouth native’s 18th homer of the year put the Titans ahead 6-3.

Kyle Serrano and Nelson Gonzalez (save, 4) completed the night on the hill for the Titans, tossing two scoreless innings. The duo combined to strike out three, each facing the minimum.

With their third straight victory and some help around the league, the Titans slide back into third place in the East Division.

The Titans continue a 10-game homestand with the second of a three-game set on Saturday night against the Empire State Greys at 6:00 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 “All-In” Playoff Package, group outings, or 2023 season tickets, visit the Titans’ official website at www.ottawatitans.com.

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