Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition

Giancarlo Stanton is at 30 homers and will challenge the team record for a season if he stays hot.

- By Tim Healey Staff writer thealey@sunsentine­l.com; @timbhealey

MIAMI — From the crack of the bat to the nodoubt flight of the ball to his trip around the bases, Giancarlo Stanton made a habit this week of going deep in the first inning.

In all three games against the Philadelph­ia Phillies, including the Miami Marlins’ 10-3 loss in the series finale, Stanton homered in his first at-bat, launching a baseball 441 feet Monday, 442 feet Tuesday and 437 feet Wednesday.

That gives Stanton 30 on the year, a total that qualifies as impressive in the context of Marlins history as well as this season across baseball. His proclivity for home runs, however, didn’t mean much in his own eyes.

“Honestly, if you’re going to lose, lose a series, it’s whatever. I don’t really care,” Stanton said. “If it’s not enough to help win, then personal stuff [doesn’t matter]. I’ve had enough personal stuff. If we don’t win, it’s not that fun.”

Stanton is tied for the major league home run lead with the New York Yankees’ Aaron Judge. He is only seven away from matching his career best (37, set in 2012 and 2014) and is quickly approachin­g the single-season Marlins record of 42 (set by Gary Sheffield in 1996).

Worth noting: Marcell Ozuna (23 homers) and Justin Bour (21) are also a hot streak away from challengin­g Sheffield’s mark.

With his long ball Wednesday, Stanton set a new Marlins record for July homers — nine, all hit in an 11-game stretch starting July 5 — with a week and a half left in the month.

He also became the quickest Marlin to reach the 30-homer milestone, needing only 93 team games, besting 2003 Mike Lowell, who needed 110.

“G’s been great,” manager Don Mattingly said. “Obviously, he’s been swinging the bat.”

Prado gets good news

Third baseman Martin

Prado’s MRI on Tuesday revealed “no significan­t damage” to his sprained right knee, Mattingly said.

“We’ll wait during this road trip [through July 26], start activity and see what happens from there,” Mattingly said.

The Marlins put Prado on the 10-day disabled list Tuesday, his third trip there this year.

Odds & ends

Miguel Rojas started at shortstop Wednesday, affording JT Riddle the chance to rest on the bench for the first time since May 12. Riddle had started 58 games in a row at short. The Marlins intend on continuing to use Rojas all over the infield, as opposed to primarily at third (Prado out) or short. … Third baseman Derek

Dietrich was slow to get up after banging his knee on the low wall down the rightfield line while making a sliding catch in the first inning Wednesday. Mattingly said Dietrich was fine and was subbed out late in the game as part of an unrelated double switch. …

The Marlins drew 31,854 fans to Marlins Park on Wednesday, their final “Camp Day” of the season. It was their third-highest home attendance mark of 2017, behind the home opener and an April Saturday against the Pirates.

 ?? MIKE EHRMANN/GETTY IMAGES ?? Giancarlo Stanton hit his 30th home run of the season in the first inning on Wednesday. It was the third straight game he did that against the Philadelph­ia Phillies.
MIKE EHRMANN/GETTY IMAGES Giancarlo Stanton hit his 30th home run of the season in the first inning on Wednesday. It was the third straight game he did that against the Philadelph­ia Phillies.

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