Happy with 59
Miami Marlins slugger Giancarlo Stanton finished one home run short of his goal of 60 as he went 2-for-5 with an RBI in the Marlins’ 8-5 loss to the Atlanta Braves. Stanton struck out swinging in his final at-bat in the ninth inning, but received a standing ovation.
MIAMI — Giancarlo Stanton hoisted his bat to the crowd after his final swing of the season, then came out for a curtain call before disappearing into a sea of dugout embraces with teammates at Marlins Park.
The Miami Marlins lost, but that was of minimal importance to those who stuck around to the end to cheer baseball’s top slugger this season.
Stanton came up short in his quest for 60 home runs, and Adonis Garcia hit a pinch-hit three-run home run to lift the Atlanta Braves over the Marlins 8-5 in the season finale for both teams Sunday.
Stanton finished with ML-bests of 59 home runs and 132 RBI. His final chance at No. 60 came in the ninth, but he went down swinging against closer Arodys Vizcaino — and when Vizcaino closed out what became his 14th save of the year, the Marlins were still congratulating Stanton for a season that will have him squarely in the NL MVP mix.
“I know I’ve got a legit chance,” Stanton said of the MVP race. “I gave it my all.”
It was the final game of Jeffrey Loria’s 16-year tenure as Marlins owner, one when the team won the 2003 World Series and didn’t make the playoffs again. He was in attendance, as was Derek Jeter — who will assume control of the franchise this week when the $1.2 billion sale to a group led by him and Bruce Sherman is closed.