10-year Marliniversary: Ozuna's 9th-inning homer propels Fish past D-backs

[Mike Ferguson]

Marcell Ozuna saved a hapless offense with a two-run shot in the ninth inning on this day 10 years ago. 

Marcell Ozuna never hit a walk-off home run as a member of the Miami Marlins, but that doesn't mean his tenure was void of the dramatic blast.

On this day 10 years ago, Ozuna delivered the Marlins in the clutch. His two-run home run in the ninth was the difference as Miami rallied past the Arizona Diamondbacks, 2-1.

Through eight innings at Chase Field on July 8, 2014, the Marlins had managed just four hits against Vidal Nuño III and Brad Ziegler. With Arizona clinging to a 1-0 lead, Addison Reed was called on to try to shut the door for the Diamondbacks.

Reed opened his night by walking Ed Lucas, but recovered quickly to strike out Giancarlo Stanton before getting Casey McGehee to line out. With the count 2-2 to Ozuna, Reed was one strike away from ending the contest.

Ozuna had other plans.

On a fastball out over the plate, Ozuna teed off, lifting the pitch to straightaway center field for the go-ahead blast. It was Ozuna's second hit of the night for a Marlins team that finished with just five.

Steve Cishek worked a 1-2-3 ninth to pick up the save.

Arizona wasted seven shutout innings from Nuno in the loss. Brad Hand scattered eight hits to yield just an unearned run in 6 ⅓ innings for Miami. Mike Dunn struck out the only batter he faced in to end the eighth and pick up the win.

The Marlins were able to overcome three errors to collect the road victory. Tuffy Gosewisch and Martín Prado each had two hits for the Diamondbacks in the loss.

In more than four seasons with the Marlins, Ozuna homered 96 times—still good for 11th in club history. A two-time All-Star for the Marlins, Ozuna hit his first game-winning home run in the ninth inning or later on this day one decade ago. 

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