Stanton ties franchise mark with 42nd homer

MIAMI -- A Marlins record that stood for 21 seasons has now been matched.
Giancarlo Stanton connected on an opposite-field home run off right-hander Germán Márquez in the third inning in the Marlins' 5-3 win over the Rockies on Sunday afternoon for his 42nd of the season, matching Gary Sheffield's total in 1996.
"I remember watching [Sheffield] a lot with the Dodgers," Stanton said. "I enjoyed watching him play as a kid. I didn't remember him too much with the Marlins. I know he had a championship. … It's definitely good company."

The homer also marked the 250th of Stanton's career, making him the sixth-fastest player (in terms of games played) to reach that benchmark since 1913.
The 27-year-old has reached 250 home runs in 941 games. According to Stats Inc., the other five players to reach the mark since 1913 in fewer games are Ryan Howard (855), Ralph Kiner (871), Harmon Killebrew (905), Albert Pujols (933) and Juan Gonzalez (936).
"It's crazy, really," Stanton said. Those are guys you glorify -- you put on pedestals. It's pretty special."

Leading off the third inning, Stanton worked a full count before he took Marquez's 97.6-mph fastball and drove it to right field. Carlos González went to the wall and looked up as the ball landed in the seats.
"There's not that many guys that leave that opposite field very often," Marlins manager Don Mattingly said. "As soon as he hits it, you know that it's gone."
Statcast™ projected the home run at 359 feet, with an exit velocity of 100 mph.
The home run also had importance in the game, pulling the Marlins even at 3. Stanton homered in all three games of the series sweep and in four straight contests. The slugger has also gone deep in nine of 10 games and has belted 21 in 33 contests.
Much of the success Stanton has had over the past two months stems from his revised batting stance, where his front foot is closer to home plate, and his upper body is closed off.

"It's kept me inside on everything," Stanton said. "Not pulling off. I've been more on-time and ready to go on off-speed, heaters and everything."
The rate Stanton is knocking the ball out of the yard is not just a big story this season, it also has historical significance.
According to Elias, Stanton is tied with Frank Robinson as the 10th-youngest player to reach 250 homers. Both did so at 27 years, 278 days.
"I've watched film over and over again until my eyes hurt, to figure it out," Stanton said. "Every year, I've seen seven or eight different stances. It's really because I haven't really felt comfortable throughout the whole season to keep one. It was the constant grind of how do I feel, how do I feel, every day. This is one I hadn't tried yet. It's been pretty good."