Ozuna Homers Twice But Rockies Out Slug Marlins
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MIAMI (AP) — Marcell Ozuna had his first multi-homer game but it wasn't enough for Miami as the Colorado Rockies beat the Marlins 5-3 on Monday night in a record-setting home run contest Monday night.
All eight runs scored on solo home runs, breaking the previous Major League record of five.
"That was different for sure and obviously they got the better of us on that," Marlins manager Don Mattingly said.
Even with the loss, it meant a lot to Ozuna
"Tonight was one of those nights that I was able to fulfill one of my dreams," he said.
Giancarlo Stanton also homered for the Marlins.
"He's coming back," Ozuna said. "He's swinging good. Hopefully we can help the team together."
Mark Reynolds had two homers and Trevor Story, Nick Hundley, and Charlie Blackmon added one each for the Rockies, who salvaged the final game of a four-game series.
"It's been a weird series and that's kind of how it's gone down here historically, but we needed to win this game and found a way to do it with the long ball," Rockies manager Walt Weiss said.
"In the heat of the game you're just trying to score more points than the other team so that's all we were worried about," Reynolds said.
The eight home runs were also the most ever in a game at Marlins Park since it opened in 2012.
"I don't know how to explain it especially at this place, it plays so big at times," Weiss said. "Eight solo homers, yeah I would have lost that bet."
Five of the game's first 13 batters hit home runs.
"We were saving them up, we didn't hit any the first few games," Blackmon said.
Jorge De La Rosa (4-4) allowed three runs and five hits in six innings to earn the win for the Rockies.
"I only made three mistakes the whole game and that was the homers," De La Rosa said.
Five relievers, including Jason Motte in the eighth and Carlos Estevez in the ninth, combined to close out the game for Colorado. Estevez recorded his fourth save in six chances.
Marlins reliever Brian Ellington (1-1) took the loss after Paul Clemens surrendered three runs in five innings in his season debut and first start since Sept. 28, 2013, while with Houston.
"I knew I didn't have my 'A' stuff but you have to find a way," Clemens said. "My changeup tonight was my second best pitch. Usually, curveball is my second-best pitch. My fastball velocity was down significantly."
Ozuna and Stanton hit back-to-back home runs in the first inning for an early lead. It was the first time the Marlins have hit consecutive home runs this season.
Stanton's home run, his 13th of the season, was his first in 16 games.
The Rockies responded with home runs in the second by Story, Reynolds and Hundley to take a 3-2 lead.
Ozuna tied the game in the fourth with another homer, his 15th on the season.
"I'm feeling good at home plate and looking for one pitch to hit," Ozuna said.
Reynolds' homer off Ellington in the sixth gave the Rockies a 4-3 lead.
"(Clemens) hung me a curveball, (Ellington) hung me a slider," Reynolds said. "Those pitches are kind of easier to turn on than 97 in. It seems like everybody we face is 95-plus."
Blackmon's home run to center in the top of the ninth capped the scoring.
REYNOLDS GOES DEEP
It was the 23rd time in Reynolds's career he has had a multi-home run game and the first time this season. Reynolds, who hit 44 in 2009 with Arizona, has 243 career homers.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Marlins: Clemens cut the top of his right thumb during his outing, but pitched through it despite bleeding on his pants. The laceration occurred when gripping his curve ball. "It happens quite a bit," Clemens said. "No big deal."
UP NEXT
Colorado will begin a two-game series at the New York Yankees on Tuesday with RHP Chad Bettis (5-5, 5.63 ERA) taking the mound against RHP Ivan Nova (5-4, 4.77).
Miami RHP Jose Fernandez (9-3, 2.57) returns to the mound Tuesday against Atlanta RHP Bud Norris (2-7, 4.81) after being skipped in the rotation for rest. "I expect that Jose is always going to be good," Mattingly said. "I guess there's a little bit of mystery just from the standpoint that he's had 10 days (off)."
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