Giancarlo Stanton limited to six innings in return to Marlins' lineup

Giancarlo Stanton returned to the Miami Marlins' lineup Friday for the first time since injuring his groin over a month ago in Marlins' 4-3 loss to the Philadelphia Phillies.

With the team limiting his innings, Stanton went 0 for 2 with two walks and grounded into a double play before being replaced in the sixth.

The reigning Home Run Derby champion had been limited to pinch-hitting duty since being activated from the disabled list last week.

Stanton suffered a Grade 3 groin strain while running the bases on Aug. 13 and initially was expected to miss the remainder of the season. But the three-time All-Star recovered faster than the Marlins expected and returned from the DL on Sept. 6 against Philadelphia.

The fading Marlins (73-74) have lost 14 of their last 18 contests and they are four games behind the New York Mets (77-70) for the National League's second wild card.

Stanton, 26, is batting .243 with 25 home runs and 71 RBIs this season. He had one hit in four at-bats as a pinch hitter since returning from the DL.