Ozuna displays baseball IQ, delivers as run-producer
Marcell Ozuna certainly hasn't produced up to a $12 million salary. The Pirates expected him to be a fixture in the middle of their order and he's fallen short of both team and individual expectations, entering today with a .179 batting average and .580 OPS.
On this particular afternoon, though, one that saw the Pirates defeat the Cardinals, 6-2, and take the three-game series at Busch Stadium, he made an impact in more ways than one, contributing two hits, one of which was this two-run single in the sixth inning that brought a three-run cushion:
RUNS: Marcell Ozuna delivers with a two-run single to left. Followed a walk to Spencer Horwitz and a Konnor Griffin double. Some insurance in the sixth for the visitors. Pirates, 4-1 -- From José Negron in St. Louispic.twitter.com/IdYMgrb7Bt
— DK Pittsburgh Sports (@DKPghSports) May 21, 2026
But before that, it was Ozuna's baseball IQ that was on display to put the Pirates in front in the fourth. Ozuna had just reached on a single to put runners on the corners with one out when JakeMangum hit a ball to JJWetherholt at second. Ozuna was a sitting duck, but he didn't just run into the out and allow the Cardinals to come away with an inning-ending double play. He forced Wetherholt to have to come to him to make the tag and record the out, giving Mangum enough time to reach first and allow the go-ahead run to score.
“He’s got it," DonKelly said of the veteran's baseball IQ. "He’s been working so hard and really pumped for him to have that success today. Hopefully it’s a little bit of a springboard for him.”
THE ASYLUM
Ozuna displays baseball IQ, delivers as run-producer
Marcell Ozuna certainly hasn't produced up to a $12 million salary. The Pirates expected him to be a fixture in the middle of their order and he's fallen short of both team and individual expectations, entering today with a .179 batting average and .580 OPS.
On this particular afternoon, though, one that saw the Pirates defeat the Cardinals, 6-2, and take the three-game series at Busch Stadium, he made an impact in more ways than one, contributing two hits, one of which was this two-run single in the sixth inning that brought a three-run cushion:
But before that, it was Ozuna's baseball IQ that was on display to put the Pirates in front in the fourth. Ozuna had just reached on a single to put runners on the corners with one out when Jake Mangum hit a ball to JJ Wetherholt at second. Ozuna was a sitting duck, but he didn't just run into the out and allow the Cardinals to come away with an inning-ending double play. He forced Wetherholt to have to come to him to make the tag and record the out, giving Mangum enough time to reach first and allow the go-ahead run to score.
“He’s got it," Don Kelly said of the veteran's baseball IQ. "He’s been working so hard and really pumped for him to have that success today. Hopefully it’s a little bit of a springboard for him.”
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