Ozuna back in lineup after family emergency
Marlins outfielder's pregnant wife became ill during Tuesday's game
MIAMI -- Marlins outfielder Marcell Ozuna was back in the starting lineup and logged a sacrifice fly that capped a big three-run sixth in a 3-0 win over the Royals on Wednesday night, a day after the All-Star center fielder was replaced in the eighth inning of Tuesday night's 1-0 loss due to a family emergency.
Ozuna's wife, who is six months pregnant, was at the game against the Royals on Tuesday, but she wasn't feeling well and went to the hospital. Initially, Ozuna was hopeful to stay in the game, but he quickly reconsidered to be with his wife.
"She's OK, the baby is OK, they're OK," Ozuna told reporters before Wednesday's win.
On Tuesday, after Ozuna left, Robert Andino came in to play left field, with Christian Yelich sliding over to center.
"It's one of those things, obviously, you're going to honor the player," manager Don Mattingly said. "We're not trying to keep him in the game or anything like that. In that situation, it's something different than that game."
Ozuna was informed about his wife's condition between the seventh and eighth innings.
"They asked, 'Do you want to keep playing?'" Ozuna said. "I said, 'Yes.' Then, I started thinking if something happened to the baby."
Once Ozuna found out his wife and baby were fine, he informed Mattingly that he was available for Wednesday.
"She was feeling a little pain, but then getting better," Ozuna said.
Rojas/Hechavarria at shortstop
At shortstop, Mattingly is going with matchups and whoever he feels is hot at the time. That's the reason Miguel Rojas is starting to get more starts at shortstop in place of Adeiny Hechavarria.
Rojas started on Wednesday after Hechavarria was in the lineup on Tuesday. It was Rojas' 19th start of the season at short. Late in the win, Hechavarria entered at short, with Rojas shifting over to first, and made an outstanding diving play in the ninth.
"Overall, Hech is our guy," Mattingly said. "But Miggy is a solid player, and he gives you different things."
Hechavarria also is 1-for-11 in his career against Royals starter Dillon Gee, which also was a factor in the decision.
"I'm just trying to get quality at-bats," Mattingly said. "For me, just keep putting baseball players on the field. I really don't see a whole, huge difference in Miggy and Hech, myself. Hech seems more suited to play one spot. Miggy is so valuable because he can play all over the place. There'd be a lot of places that would be trying to play Miggy every day."