The red-hot Miami Marlins defeated the San Diego Padres on Sunday, improving to 66-63 and staying within striking distance of the NL wild card. The biggest play in Sunday's 6-2 win? Giancarlo Stanton clubbing this tie-breaking, two-run home run in the bottom of the eighth inning:
It was Stanton's 50th home run of the season, making him the first National League player to hit 50 since Prince Fielder in 2007. There are only 44 individual player seasons in history with at least 50 home runs. The most recent in either league was Baltimore's Chris Davis in 2013 with 53.
Given that it's only Aug. 27, this is a pretty amazing feat for Stanton.
Further, Stanton now has 17 home runs in August. The most home runs ever in August in a single season was 18, which Detroit's Rudy York did in 1937.
The Marlins have 33 games remaining, so Stanton has a good shot to reach 60. The only players in MLB history to reach 60 home runs are Barry Bonds (73), Mark McGwire (70 and 65), Sammy Sosa (66, 64 and 63), Roger Maris (61) and Babe Ruth (60). He's the quickest to reach 50 homers in a season since Bonds in 2001.
Stanton can probably reach 65 at this rate, and we can start looking at him possibly making a run at 73. He'd have to stay ridiculously hot, obviously, but he's hit 29 home runs in his last 46 games. Not much would be surprising at this point.
