Marcell Ozuna shines in Braves’ modified batting order

“You know I liked the way it went,” he said. “You know, when Austin was struggling, I moved Marcel to third even though he started the year hitting five and scoring all the runs, but honestly, I like him there.

“He (Ozuna) is here to do damage and score points,” Snitker said.

Ozuna hit .331 in 39 games this season, batting fifth. He had 13 home runs, two fewer than the Yankees’ Giancarlo Stanton. He also had 43 RBIs, the most by a five-hole hitter in the league.

In Saturday’s game, Ozuna hit a home run over the fence in his first at-bat, driving in two runs. Then, in the fourth inning, Ozuna hit a double. He helped the Braves to a 5-1 victory.

Ozuna talked about hitting in the fifth position.

“I mean, as soon as I get here in Atlanta, I’ll tell them it doesn’t matter what position I’m at. Ninth, first, it’ll be cool to be in the lineup, especially in this organization,” Ozuna said.

His home run Saturday night followed his three-run homer in the eighth inning Friday against the Phillies. Before this weekend series, Ozuna had matched his longest stretch of the season, going 11 games without a home run, since June 22 against the Yankees.

His bat has been needed. Over the last 60 games before Saturday, dating back to April 28, the Braves have scored 3.66 runs per game, which ranks third in the league, ahead of the Marlins (3.53) and White Sox (3.41).

Ozuna hopes to lead the Braves to another victory Sunday. They are nine games behind the Phillies in the East.

“Every time we play the Phillies, I tell my team we have to treat this like a playoff game. We have to keep doing a good job and fighting every time,” Ozuna said.