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GREENSBORO -- The South Atlantic League's long-ball leader isn't in next week's Home Run Derby. Heck, he's not even in the All-Star game, scheduled for his home park. Then again, the Democrats and Republicans won't officially nominate anybody for president for several weeks.

Maybe that's the sort of formality that awaits Grasshoppers outfielder Mike Stanton, who blasted his eighth homer in the past 17 games Wednesday afternoon in his team's 6-5 comeback victory over the Lexington Legends.

"I guess we'll find out eventually," said Stanton, who elevated his season's home run total to 14. "We'll just see how it goes. It's not really a big deal."

In winning for the ninth time in 11 games, the Hoppers (37-29) remained alive in the SAL's Northern Division race. They are 21/2 games behind the Lake County Captains. Both teams have four games left in the first half.

Danny Garcia, who struck out in his first three plate appearances, became the protagonist in victory when he bounced a single into the hole at short that caromed off the glove of the diving Cat Everett and scored Ozzie Martinez with two out in the bottom of the ninth.

"I tried not to think about the past," Garcia said. "I tried to stay positive and jump on the first fastball I saw."

All-Star game rosters in minor league baseball are like day traders' stock portfolios. One day, a chosen starter gets promoted to a higher league and must be replaced. Another gets hurt hours later and is shelved.

For Stanton's sake, that already might have happened. One of the Northern Division's starters, Lakewood first baseman Michael Durant, hasn't played since injuring an ankle May 20. Durant, who was topping the league's home run chart when he went down, remained on the All-Star roster Wednesday -- nine days after the selections were announced.

Stanton continued to make his case Wednesday with a two-run shot in the first inning. Greensboro now has homered in 17 straight games, a rare feat. (Major league teams have done it 40 times in the past 53 seasons.)

The Californian, who turned down a baseball scholarship and a walk-on opportunity as a wide receiver at Southern Cal, is developing into an intriguing prospect for the Florida Marlins. His strikeout total remains high -- 80 in 60 games -- but it's hard to ignore what happens when he does make contact. Tuesday night, he hit one over the Wrangler time and temperature sign in left-center that bounced into a parking lot.

"Nothing special," he said of his recent hitting habits. "I'm just trying to swing at better pitches."

Manager Edwin Rodriguez said Stanton thrives by keeping detailed records. The notes contain the identity and results of every pitch he puts into play.

"He is still learning to be a professional hitter," Rodriguez said. "He pays so much attention to it. His approach to each pitcher is so different compared to other 18-year-old kids. He's on a mission."

Outfielder Bryan Peterson extended his hitting streak to 18 games -- the longest active run in the league.