Diamondbacks 3 - 2 Marlins
Final
  for this game

Marlins resume series with Diamondbacks

Aug 15, 2014 - 2:46 PM (SportsNetwork.com) - Miami's Marcell Ozuna is hardly a household name when it comes to National League difference-makers. But don't try and sell that to the Arizona Diamondbacks.

The first-year full-time regular can continue a season series' worth of hurt against the Diamondbacks on Friday night when the Marlins host game two of a four-game set at Marlins Park.

The youngster was 4-for-39 entering Thursday's first game, but snapped out of the funk with a pair of hits -- including a walk-off double in the 10th inning -- of a 5-4 win.

The hits lifted Ozuna to 7-for-15 in four games against Arizona this season, including a decisive two-run home run on a July 8 game at Chase Field.

"This guy is a huge part of our team," Miami manager Mike Redmond said. "And he's had some big at-bats and he's gotten some big hits for us throughout the year."

Lefty Brad Hand takes the mound for the Marlins for game two after he was dinged for seven runs in just 4 2/3 innings of a 7-2 loss at Cincinnati on Sunday.

In four previous starts, he'd been 2-1 with a stingy 2.28 earned run average and hadn't surrendered a home run.

"You've got to limit the big innings, and get out of there," Hand said. "I had a chance to get out of there with no runs, and I couldn't finish it."

He also pitched the aforementioned July 8 game in Arizona and allowed just an unearned run on eight hits in 6 1/3 innings, before getting a no-decision upon Ozuna's heroics.

Arizona has won just four of its last 12 games, while batting a collective .232.

Right-hander Trevor Cahill gets the call to start after getting his first win as a starter on Saturday, with seven innings of three-run ball with seven strikeouts in a 14-4 rout of Colorado.

In one meeting with the Marlins, he allowed a run in eight innings while recording a 9-2 win in May 2013.

On Thursday, Garrett Jones worked a leadoff walk off Bradin Hagens (0-1), who was making his MLB debut, in the bottom of the 10th. Jeff Mathis followed with a single to right before Ozuna's RBI double to center decided the game.

Giancarlo Stanton finished 3-for-4 with an RBI and Adeiny Hechavarria tripled and drove in two runs for the Marlins, who have won five of their last seven games. Mike Dunn (10-5) earned the win after tossing perfect ninth and 10th innings with three strikeouts. Dunn now leads the majors in wins by a reliever with 10 and set a franchise record for wins in a season by a reliever.

Mark Trumbo went 2-for-4 with two RBI and David Peralta and Miguel Montero each brought in a run for Arizona, which has dropped three of its last four.






Related News