Ozuna signs 1-year deal with Braves
Free agent outfielder Marcell Ozuna and the Atlanta Braves reached an $18 million, one-year deal Tuesday that puts him on the team he helped beat in the playoffs last October.
Ozuna hit .429 with two home runs for the St. Louis Cardinals in their five-game win over the Braves in the NL Division Series.
The 29-year-old Ozuna hit .241 with 29 home runs and 89 RBI last season. His low batting average was something on an oddity because he ranked among the major league leaders in the highest percentage of hard-hit balls, according to Statcast.
Ozuna is a two-time AllStar who spent his first five seasons with the Marlins, then was traded and played two years in St. Louis.
ST. JOHN’S FALLS TO MARQUETTE
MILWAUKEE — Markus Howard scored 32 points with six rebounds and four assists and Marquette beat St. John's 82-68 on Tuesday.
Howard, who made 12 of 13 from the foul line, moved into sixth place on the Big East's all-time scoring list with 1,292 points. He surpassed Chris Mullin (1,290, St. John's) and Kerry Kittles (1,288, Villanova).
Sacar Anim scored 21 points and Koby McEwen 10 with nine rebounds for the Golden Eagles (13-5, 3-3) who earned a pair of votes in this week's AP Top 25 Poll.
The Red Storm (12-7, 1-5) reduced their deficit to 4238 after Rasheem Dunn's layup with 18:12 left. But Marquette went on a 17-7 run in the next 51/2 minutes for a 14-point lead. St. John's managed to get within 62-60 with 8:08 left but never got closer.
GAUFF ADVANCES AT AUSSIE OPEN
MELBOURNE, Australia — Coco Gauff defeated Sorana Cirstea 4-6, 6-3, 7-5 to set up a third-round match against defending champion Naomi Osaka at the Australian
Open.
The 15-year-old Gauff rallied after losing the first set and got the pivotal service break in the next-to-last game before serving out against 29-year-old Cirstea, who is playing at the Australian Open for a 12th time.
Gauff started the tournament with her second firstround win over Venus Williams in three majors, following her upset over the seven-time Grand Slam champion at last year's Wimbledon.
PEDROIA SETBACK
Red Sox second baseman Dustin Pedroia had what the team called a “significant setback” while rehabbing his left knee, the latest blow to the four-time All-Star's attempt to return to the field.
Boston spokesman Kevin Gregg confirmed the development Tuesday, which was first reported by The Boston Globe. It has left Pedroia's status for spring training uncertain. The Globe reported that he was meeting with his family, team and agents to decide his future.