MIAMI — Giancarlo Stanton paused in his pursuit of a hallowed home run number, acknowledged he’s shooting for 61 and said he finds baseball’s statistical history both alluring and tainted.

Stanton’s six-game homer streak ended Wednesday, but he singled, stole a base and scored in a four-run first inning to help the Miami Marlins beat the San Francisco Giants 8-1.

While Stanton didn’t come close to hitting his 45th homer of the year, he’s on pace to finish with 61 and said that number is a goal.

“When you grow up watching all the old films of Babe Ruth and (Mickey) Mantle and those guys, 61 has always been that printed number,” Stanton said.

Ruth hit a record 60 homers in 1927, and Stanton said he gives that achievement an asterisk because the sport wasn’t integrated then. Mantle’s teammate Roger Maris broke the record with 61 in 1961.

Barry Bonds set the current record of 73 in 2001 during the steroids era, and Stanton said he also considers that total tainted.

“But at the same time it doesn’t matter,” he said. “The record is the record.”

Lately Stanton has been on a pace that would allow him to challenge Bonds. Facing three Giants pitchers, he failed to homer for only the third time in the past 13 games.