Giambi Rocks Phillies to Another Loss

The Phillies offense was terrible again and another veteran seems destined for the disabled list-- no surprises there -- but the guy who rocked the Phillies to a 7-1 defeat Thursday night was a surprise.

Rockies 40-year-old backup Jason Giambi looked like the slugger who won the AL MVP more than a decade ago rather than a washed up bench player as he became the second oldest player ever to hit three home runs in a game. He was only in the game because regular old-guy Colorado first baseman Todd Helton tweaked his back the night before.

"I was up there letting it fly, giving it some whacks," Giambi said.

Giambi knocked in all seven Colorado runs with his three monster shots. He tagged Kyle Kendrick -- who filled in for Joe Blanton after the Phillies scheduled starter complained of right elbow soreness -- twice to break out of a 0-for-18 slump that had lasted more than a month.

Kendrick (3-3) was called on at the last minute after Blanton was pulled due to the same elbow issue that landed him on the DL a few weeks back. Kendrick lasted just three innings allowing five earned runs on seven hits, two homers from Giambi and one walk while striking out two.

Danys Baez came in to surrender two more runs on another Giambi blast.

Giambi had two chances to tie the Major-League record with four homers in a game but he struck out against Scott Mathieson and J.C. Romero.

While Giambi was rocking Phillies pitching, Rockies starter Jhoulys Chacin was lulling the Phillies slumping lineup to sleep. Chacin (5-2) allowed just four hits, one walk and one run while striking out nine over seven innings.

The only offense for the Phightins came in the fourth when Raul Ibanez hit a two-out ground-rule double to bring home Placido Polanco for the Phillies only score.

And the offensive woes could get worse as center fielder Shane Victorino also appears to be headed to the DL with a hamstring strain.

The loss dropped the Phillies to 26-17 with the Texas Rangers coming to town for a three-game inter-league series. Phillies ace Roy Halladay (5-3, 2.21) will try to get the team back on track Friday night when he faces off against C.J. Wilson (4-2, 3.38).

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