Stanton, Ozuna go quietly
AL pitchers dominate Marlins stars
MIAMI Here’s the thing about MiamiMarlins outfielders Giancarlo Stanton and Marcell Ozuna earning their way into the All-Star Game: It meant they had to face the best pitchers in theworld.
Stanton and Ozunawent hitless in a combined five at-bats against those pitchers Tuesday at Marlins Park before exiting in the middle innings in favor of the National League’s reserves, in accordance with the exhibition’s norms.
Stanton, serving as the designated hitter and batting second, went 0 for 3 with two strikeouts. Ozuna, playing left field and hitting eighth, went 0 for 2 with a strikeout.
Alas, the sentiment Stanton expressed Tuesday regarding his firstround exit in Monday’s Home Run Derby applies to the game itself, too.
“I still had fun. It doesn’t matter,” Stanton said. “Like I said originally, even if I got out early, I’m still going to have fun. If I look back and dwell on it, what’s the point of being an All-Star?”
One notch in Ozuna’s belt, at least, is that he received perhaps the loudest ovation during pregame introductions of the All-Stars and coaches, loud enough that itwas near-impossible to hear his name called as he jogged out of the home dugout.
Stanton and Marlins manager Don Mattingly, serving as a coach for the National League team, also drew large cheers.
For Stanton, being the hometown star set this AllStar experience apart from his previous three.
“A lot more buzz. A lot more people rooting for me, which is cool,” Stanton said. “This one was really cool and special.”
Both players fanned swinging against Red Sox ace Chris Sale, the American League’s starting pitcher, in their first at-bat. Sale got Stanton on a 98.3 mph fastball on the outside edge of the strike zone in the first inning, Ozuna on an 85.6 mph slider in the dirt in the second.
Stanton struck out again in his second plate appearance, against Yankees reliever Dellin Betances, on a slider lowand away.
His night ended with a batted ball, dribbled in front of the plate. Royals catcherSalvadorPerez easily threw him out at first.
Ozuna had one other plate appearance before giving away to Mets outfielder Michael Conforto in the top of the sixth inning. Ozuna grounded out to shortstop in the fourth inning.
Now, Stanton andOzuna get two days off before the Marlins resume play Friday at home against the Dodgers.
After a few grueling days — which included the team flight from San Francisco landing in Miami at 4:30 a.m. Monday, followed by a middle-of-the-night haircut as the sun rose, followedby a day full of media and community-service obligations, followedby the Derby, followed by another day of non-game obligations, followed by the actual All-Star Game — they will getsomewell deserved down time.
“I’m going to take these two days [off ],” Stanton said, “and hopefully don’t see anyone and don’t do a dang thing.”
thealey@ sunsentinel.com, @timbhealey