Stanton becomes Marlins' all-time RBI leader

MIAMI -- It wasn't a vintage Giancarlo Stanton smash. By the slugger's standards, it was a modestly driven ball over the right-field wall.
Yet Stanton's home run off Patrick Corbin in the fifth inning of the Marlins' 7-5 win over the D-backs at Marlins Park on Friday had franchise significance because it established the 27-year-old slugger as the franchise's all-time RBI leader.
After circling the bases, Stanton had his 579th career RBI, passing Mike Lowell (578) for most in club history.
"Where it matters in the game, these are accomplishments you can look back and see how cool it was," Stanton said. "In the moment, it was how it influenced us today in a good way."
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In terms of the game, it was important because Stanton's solo shot gave the Marlins a 6-5 lead after the D-backs had rallied back from four runs down.
Stanton is also the Marlins' career home run leader with 223. He joins Evan Longoria of the Rays as the only active players to pace his franchise in home runs and RBIs.
"Any time you can be the all-time something for a Major League franchise, it's pretty cool," center fielder Christian Yelich said. "He's going to keep adding to that. He's going to hold a lot of 'all-times' for this franchise when it's all said and done."
Stanton is known for hitting some of the longest homers in the game. His opposite-field drive was a reminder that the three-time All-Star doesn't need to crush the baseball to get it out of the park.
Statcast™ projected Stanton's home run at 351 feet with an exit velocity of 99.6 mph and a launch angle of 36 degrees. It marked the third-softest and shortest homer for Stanton in the Statcast™ Era.

At first, Stanton wasn't sure the ball would be gone.
"When it's so far down the right-field line, I don't know," Stanton said. "I don't hit them over there too often."
Stanton has continued to stay hot since moving into the second spot in the lineup on May 23. On Friday, Stanton went 2-for-3 with a walk and three runs.
Continuing to build a case to be an All-Star, Stanton has a slash line of .289/.354/.572 with 15 home runs and 39 RBIs.
"Coming over here, you knew that he was the guy," Marlins manager Don Mattingly said. "I think he's got a lot more help now. I think he can get even better as his approach grows and he stays within the strike zone more and more. It's scary because he can hit the ball out of any part of the ballpark."