Cardoso, Wright help Ottawa Titans clinch playoff berth
Designated hitter Kaiden Cardoso (Abbotsford, B.C.) had a double and a run for the Ottawa Titans in their 5-2 win over the Quebec Capitales on Saturday. Photo: Ottawa Titans (file photo).
August 29, 2026
Official Ottawa Titans News Release
Québec City, Que. - With a pair of early homers, the Ottawa Titans snapped a five-game slide and clinched a postseason berth with a 5-2 win over the Québec Capitales on Saturday night.
With one on and one out in the top of the first, AJ Wright unloaded on a fastball from Ian Villers, sending a two-run homer to centre to put the Titans out in front 2-0 just three batters in. Wright's homer was his first in 28 games and his 13th of the season.
Leading off the second, Hunter Stokely made it 3-0 with an opposite-field solo shot for his ninth of the campaign.
Eric Pardinho looked dominant through the first four innings, until the Capitales loaded the bases with two outs in the fifth. Torin Montgomery and Yuta Hamada each drew walks, forcing home a pair of runs to make it a one-run game.
Inheriting the bases loaded, Christian Scafidi got the Titans out of the jam by getting Eddie Hacopian to weakly fly out to end the threat, keeping the Titans in front 3-2.
Pardinho went four and two-thirds, allowing two runs on five hits, walking a season-high five, while striking out three in the no decision.
Kaiden Cardoso (Abbotsford, B.C.) opened the sixth inning off right-hander Patrick Bauer with a double to right, scoring on an error to make it 4-2.
Ted Stuka left two walks aboard in a clean sixth; Brett Garcia was terrific with two shutout frames and four strikeouts to keep the Titans in front.
Myles Smith kicked off the ninth with a single and plated on an AJ Wright sac fly, giving the Titans enough breathing room at 5-2.
Liu Fuenmayor rolled a double-play ball in the bottom of the ninth to lock things down, putting an end to the losing streak and sending the Titans back to the playoffs for the first time since 2024.
Myles Smith, Taylor Wright (North Vancouver, B.C.), and AJ Wright all posted two-hit nights in the win. Jake Steels singled and walked, extending his hit streak to ten in a row.
The Atlantic Conference playoff picture is set, as the Titans join Québec, New Jersey, and New York as the four teams to qualify. Québec is locked into the No. 1 seed, while the East Division winner will get the No. 2 seed. The Titans can finish at most third.
The Titans will host Game 1 of the best-of-three Atlantic Conference Wild Card round with an opponent TBD on Wednesday, September 9, at 7:00 p.m. at Ottawa Stadium.
The Titans end the road trip with the finale of a three-game series against the Capitales on Sunday night at 5:05 p.m. at Stade Canac in Québec City, Qué. The Titans are home starting Tuesday to face Trois-Rivières as part of Fan Appreciation Week before ending the season with four games in New Jersey.