By Morris Phillips

Five home runs in five games. 22 home runs in 34 games. Giancarlo Stanton’s power display was in full bloom Monday, and the Giants–in desperate need of what the Marlins’ slugger provides–had a discerning eye on all the action.

Surely, the San Francisco contingent came away impressed. And humbled.

“This is the beauty of this game, these great hitters or power hitters getting on these rolls,” Giants manager Bruce Bochy said prior to the Marlins 9-3 romp. “Unfortunately, he’s on the other team.”

For now. Could Stanton fill a huge void in the Giants’ lineup in 2018, and be that guy Bochy feels the Giants need to take the pressure of a lineup that ranks last in Major League Baseball in home runs?

The answer is sure, but it’s unlikely.

Stanton’s mega deal signed last season will pay him $325 million over 13 seasons, and not expire until 2028. With the new Derek Jeter-led ownership group taking over the Marlins, any serious bidders that are willing and financially able to assume such a deal will have their inquiries taken very seriously.

The Giants have the wherewithal, and the Marlins’ new ownership are likely to consider the benefits of a clean slate financially. So let the negotiations commence, right?

Not so fast. Stanton has a no-trade clause in his deal, and he went to high school in Southern California. If the Giants want Stanton, then the Dodgers will want him as well.

Oh well.

But the Stanton storyline is intriguing.

On Monday, the Giants were stuck with unenviable task of following three ballgames in 24 hours–including a three-hour rain delay–with another game the next night after a lenghty flight.

With rookie Ty Blach on the mound, the red-hot Joe Panik not in the lineup and at second base due to concussion symptoms–along with the looming presence of Stanton in the opposing dugout–the Giants had a heap of adversity.

That adversity surfaced in the first inning.

Dee Gordon led off with a single, and Stanton followed with a two-run shot, setting a new Marlins’ record for home runs in a single season with 43.

The Giants responded with Denard Span’s two-run double, and a RBI knock from Hunter Pence in the third.

But the Giants’ 3-2 lead was short lived. The Marlins responded with a tying run in the third, two more in the fourth, one in the fifth, and after Blach was mercifully dismissed after six innings, the Marlins capped their night with two runs off Kyle Crick in the seventh.