To go with 50 homers, Stanton flirts with .300

MIAMI—During his home run binge, Giancarlo Stanton is also content to settle for singles.

Stanton went 8 for 10 to lead the Miami Marlins to a threegame weekend sweep of San Diego, raising his average to a career high .296. He hit three homers, increasing his season total to 50, along with three singles and two doubles.

“A lot of people from the outside are probably thinking he’s just going up there trying to hit a homer every at-bat, but that’s not the case,” teammate Christian Yelich said.

The series raised Stanton’s average in 23 games since Aug. 4 to .402. That includes 13 singles, five doubles and 17 homers for an OPS of 1.531.

“It’s unbelievable,” Yelich said. “You feel everything he hits is an absolute rocket, and if it gets up in the air, it’s a homer.”

A recent tweak in Stanton’s stance has helped him lay off outside breaking pitches, long his biggest weakness. Swinging mostly at strikes, he’s willing to hit the ball the other way or on the ground or both, depending on the situation.

The goal, he said, is to make the most of every trip to the plate.

“That is the biggest key,” Stanton said. “You never know which at-bat is going to give you a chance. If you don’t give in, you’re set up for something good.”

The home runs make the headlines, but the surprising Marlins have surged into the NL wild-card race because Stanton seems to do damage almost every time he bats.

It’s no fluke he’s flirting with .300, manager Don Mattingly said.

“You’re seeing a more disciplined hitter in the sense of covering zones and laying off bad stuff,” Mattingly said. “He’s taking what they give, and for him, taking what they give can go all over the ballpark.”