ATLANTA -- Drake Baldwin and Marcell Ozuna were in complete control against the Marlins’ pitching in the second game of Saturday’s doubleheader at Truist Park.
Ozuna went 2-for-4 with two home runs and four RBIs, while Baldwin went 2-for-5 with three RBIs as the Braves handled the Marlins with an 8-6 win on Saturday night to sweep the day-night twin bill.
The Marlins had not lost both games of a doubleheader since Aug. 19, 2023, against the Dodgers in Los Angeles. Atlanta has now won six straight doubleheader games vs. Miami, dating back to the 2018 season.
Atlanta clinched the five-game series. And it’s the first time the Braves have won three out of four games since doing so against the Cardinals and the Yankees from July 11-18.
It was Ozuna’s first multihomer game of the season and the 23rd of his career. It was his first such game since July 20, 2024, also in the second game of a doubleheader. Ozuna hit both of his home runs off Marlins starting pitcher Sandy Alcantara.
“He’s a good pitcher,” Ozuna said. “He [won a] Cy Young [Award] in the past. This year he’s kind of struggled a little bit, so we have to take care of those opportunities. I never thought about hitting a homer [against him]. What I did today, I feel amazing. I’ve got the world in my hands.”
In the series, Baldwin is 7-for-17 (.412) with 10 RBIs, and he finished the day a combined 4-for-9 with five RBIs and two runs scored. Baldwin’s 10 RBIs are the most by a Braves rookie in a single series since the franchise moved to Atlanta in 1966.
“It’s nice to win a series there and win games,” Baldwin said. “A lot of people are coming through with guys on base and it’s getting us runs, and our pitchers are getting us to the end of the game with the lead, which is huge.”
Baldwin’s 51 RBIs are second among National League rookies, trailing only Miami’s Agustín Ramírez (52), though Ramírez has 372 at-bats compared to Baldwin’s 266 at-bats.
“It just comes from a little experience,” Baldwin said of his approach at the plate with runners on base. “[It’s] not a ton of experience, but [I have] a couple of games under [my] belt, just being in that situation. [It’s about] trying to get a good pitch, and pitchers are going to be trying to nibble in those situations. They’re throwing their best stuff. [I try to] use the whole field rather than just trying to hit a home run.”
Ozuna and Baldwin are responsible for 12 of the Braves’ 32 hits in the series. Ozuna is slashing .313/.452/.781 with five home runs over his past 11 games.
Ozuna continues to torment the Marlins, the team he was signed by in 2008, debuted with in ‘13 and played with for five seasons. Since leaving Miami, Ozuna has slashed .314/.372/.568 with 21 home runs and 57 RBIs in 75 games against the club.
“That’s the organization where [I started playing] pro ball,” Ozuna said. “[When I] face them, I feel like I’ve got everything in control. Control what you can control.”
Ozuna took two steps closer to reaching 300 career home runs, hitting blasts No. 292 and 293. He isn’t concerned about the approaching milestone.
“I don’t think about that,” Ozuna said. “I just want to go out there and have fun and enjoy my teammates, and that’s it.”
Baldwin collected five RBIs in the first game of the series, two RBIs in the third game and three in the fourth game.
“He’s been amazing,” Ozuna said. “He’s one of the future players here. He’s [going to] have a long career the way that he prepares and the way that he calls the game and the way that he comes with energy every single day."