Stanton edges out Votto for National League MVP

Marlins right fielder led majors in homers, RBI

Giancarlo Stanton (Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)

Miami Marlins right fielder Giancarlo Stanton narrowly edged out Cincinnati Reds first baseman Joey Votto for the National League Most Valuable Player award on Thursday.

Stanton earned 302 points to Votto's 300 in voting by the Baseball Writers' Association of America.

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The two-point margin was the third closest in NL MVP balloting and the fourth overall.

Stanton won 10 of 30 first-place votes to go along with 10 second-place votes, five for third place, three for fourth and one each for fifth and sixth.

Votto, meanwhile, earned 10 first-place votes, nine second-place votes, four for third place, five for fourth and two for fifth.

Arizona Diamondbacks first baseman Paul Goldschmidt finished in third place with a total of 239 points, including four first-place votes.

Stanton, 28, lead the majors this season with 59 home runs and 132 RBIs. The right-handed slugger hit for a .281 average and posted a 1.007 OPS and a NL-best .631 slugging percentage.

Despite Stanton's performance, the Marlins missed the playoffs, finishing a distant second behind the Washington Nationals in the NL East with a record of 77-85.