MIAMI -- Giancarlo Stanton paused in his pursuit of a hallowed home run number, acknowledged he's shooting for 61 and said he finds baseball's statistical history both alluring and tainted.
Stanton's six-game homer streak ended Wednesday, but he singled, stole a base and scored in a four-run first inning to help the Marlins beat the Giants, 8-1.
While Stanton didn't come close to hitting his 45th homer of the year, he's on pace to finish with 61 and said that number is a goal.
"When you grow up watching all the old films of Babe Ruth and (Mickey) Mantle and those guys, 61 has always been that printed number," Stanton said.