Ozuna’s Braves bounce-back has him all smiles once more

ATLANTA — Marcell Ozuna owned as much as his embarrassing removing from Sunday’s sport, after which put himself again in good graces whereas additional exhibiting his rejuvenation in May wasn’t a fluke.

Ozuna delivered the game-tying double and scored the go-ahead run in a four-run sixth inning that gave the Braves a 6-4 win over the Mets after a 1-hour, 40-minute climate delay on Tuesday night time at Truist Park. His well timed hit additional distanced him from Sunday’s lack of hustle and an unsightly April that created questions on his future.

“You can see it on my face,” Ozuna stated. “I enjoy the game, have fun and give it my best.”

Ozuna’s tenure with the Braves has been a attempting one. Days after fracturing two fingers close to the top of May in 2021, he was arrested for home violence. He then produced a disappointing .687 OPS and had a DUI arrest final 12 months. But over the previous 5 weeks, he’s regained the swing and smile that was so usually seen when he first got here to Atlanta in 2020.  

“He’s never given up on himself and he’s worked really hard,” Braves supervisor Brian Snitker stated. “We know it’s in there. We’ve seen it with the [2020 season]. It’s good to see the hard work pays off.”

Since hitting .085 with a .397 OPS in 67 plate appearances in March/April, Ozuna has been one of many sport’s most harmful hitters. He entered Tuesday with a 1.018 OPS because the begin of May, which ranked fourth amongst all MLB hitters with no less than 100 plate appearances inside this span.

Ozuna’s profitable stretch is harkening again to recollections of 2020, when he produced a 1.067 OPS, hit an NL-best 18 homers and completed sixth in National League MVP balloting throughout the COVID-shortened season.

Does he really feel like he’s again to that stage?

“Close, close, close,” Ozuna stated. “Every day, I’m working and learning everything. Every day you go to the park, you try to learn a little bit and give your best.”

Ozuna’s newest key contribution prolonged the Braves’ profitable streak to a few video games and strengthened their spot atop the National League East standings. They have gained three of the 4 video games performed to date in opposition to the Mets, who’re 6 1/2 video games again. The second place Marlins are three video games again.

The Braves have been 10 1/2 video games behind the Mets getting into June final 12 months and 7 video games again on Aug. 10 earlier than capturing a fifth straight NL East title. So they actually perceive a lot can nonetheless occur. But on the identical time, there’s no discounting what they did on Sunday, when Eddie Rosario hit a game-winning grand slam with two outs within the ninth in opposition to Arizona, and once more throughout this collection opener in opposition to the Mets.

Ozzie Albies’ solo homer within the second accounted for the Braves’ solely run till Austin Riley and Sean Murphy chased Mets starter Carlos Carrasco with consecutive doubles with none out in Tuesday’s sixth. Murphy’s two-run double lower the Braves’ deficit to at least one and put him in place to attain when Ozuna hit a two-out double off Drew Smith.

Suddenly, a few of those self same followers who had loudly booed Ozuna in April have been cheering him once more.

“He’s the same guy now as he was then,” Braves beginning pitcher Bryce Elder stated. “I’m very impressed by that. He hasn’t changed a bit and the success has come for him. I’m really happy for him.”

Ozuna was lifted from Sunday’s win over the D-backs as a result of he ended up with a 415-foot single after admiring his lengthy drive hit close to the highest of Chase Field’s tall center-field wall. He confirmed accountability as he sat at his locker after the sport and stated he agreed with Snitker’s determination to take away him.

“He handled it exactly the way you’re supposed to,” Snitker stated. “He came out and got a really, really big hit for us.”