Marcell Ozuna began a hitting spree April 30 that has taken him on the longest streak in the National League this season.
That reached 15 games in Sunday’s 5-1 victory against the Nationals with a single after Ozuna avoided injury in a scary collision with Giancarlo Stanton in the outfield.
Following his three-hit effort in Saturday’s win in the second game of a doubleheader, the Marlins’ center fielder offered that the last game in April was when he started using bats belonging to hitting coach Barry Bonds.
“I’m using Barry’s bats. He gave me the opportunity, and I feel great swinging that bat,” said Ozuna, who is hitting .433 (26 for 60) during the streak. “Just ordered more because I broke so many bats.”
A bat Ozuna broke Friday led to a curious incident when it ended up in the Nationals dugout and the Marlins interrupted play to retrieve it.
Marlins manager Don Mattingly shrugged off the suggestion there was gamesmanship at play on the part of Nationals manager Dusty Baker, saying it was his understanding the bat was picked up to be authenticated as memorabilia.
“In L.A. they would bring other teams’ bats over; they would authenticate them and bring them back,” Mattingly said. “I think Barry just wanted it back right away. I don’t know if he realized they would have brought it back.”
Meanwhile, Ozuna has been tearing through Bonds’ lumber and opposing pitching like a buzz saw. With fives hits in the doubleheader he had nine multi-hit games during the streak.
He got the Marlins started toward a much-needed win in Game 2 with a triple and scored the first run. He delivered the biggest hit of the game in the fifth inning, a two-out single with the bases loaded that drove in two runs and turned a close game into a 5-1 lead.
Regarding the role Bonds’ bats may be playing in Ozuna’s recent success, Mattingly mused, “I told Barry, does he hit the same if it’s got his name on it, not your name on it? The exact same bat and they just brand another name on it, does that help him hit? Maybe it does.”
More likely it is the progression of a talented 25-year-old emerging after a trying 2015 that included a controversial demotion to Triple-A at midseason. That led to a contentious reaction from agent Scott Boras and subsequent trade rumors in the offseason.
Now Ozuna appears to be the best trade the Marlins never made.
As to what was holding him back, Ozuna said, “Thinking too much.”
He said he hasn’t made any notable adjustment.
“I feel the same. I just focus on being ready to swing. Just find the ball and swing at it. I feel great, just trying to put the ball in play and make trouble for the other team.
“I work with Barry and he’s helped me a lot.”
Ozuna has raised his batting average from .218 to .312 during the streak.
One difference that stands out is a more patient approach that is yielding more walks. Consequently, his .358 on-base percentage is significantly better than his previous season high of .317.
Mattingly said, “I think this tells you how young guys progress. They have a good year and sometimes they take a step backwards. They go back to work and the next thing you know they’re that guy again.
“What he’s been able to do — use the whole field, hit the ball up the middle, he’s using the right-field corner, he’s hitting the ball to left — he’s taken his walks when he has to. To me that’s where it all started.
“It’s fun to watch him play. He loves to play, he’s always got a smile on his face.”
Garcia gets call
The call up of Jarlin Garcia from Double-A Jacksonville ends the Marlins’ spell without a left-hander in the bullpen. But Mattingly said the decision was more about adding a pitcher able to provide multiple innings if needed, particularly after the relief corps was taxed by the doubleheader.
Nick Wittgren, who pitched two innings in the first game Saturday, was optioned to Triple-A New Orleans.
“I can’t say I definitely won’t use him just as a matchup guy, but we’re bringing him in this situation after the innings we used [Saturday] as a guy that’s got six innings in him, that’s got 100 pitches in him,” Mattingly said. “This is more about pitches and innings and being able to protect our other guys.”
Garcia made seven starts at Jacksonville and was 1-2 with a 4.04 ERA. The 23-year-old Dominican had 25 strikeouts with only nine walks in 35 2/3 innings.
