Jason Giambi, who came into tonight’s game hitting .115, knocked three home runs in his first three at bats as the Rockies crushed the Phillies 7-1 in the second of a short, two game series at Citizens Bank Park.
Joe Blanton was scheduled to start the game, but was scratched at the last moment when he felt elbow soreness after doing some long tossing. Kyle Kendrick was called on for the emergency start and was basically a complete disaster. He game five runs in three innings, all off Giambi home runs. The 40 year old would hit his third off Danys Baez after coming into the game with just three hits on the season.
The Phillies were so short due to injuries today that when Kendrick’s spot in the lineup came up, Cliff Lee was called up on to pinch hit. Not surprisingly, he struck out.
It was just what has been become a typical night for the Phillies offense, which was just terrible once again. Pete Orr and Michael Martinez, who will hopefully be displaced by the returns of Shane Victorino and Chase Utley, went 0-7. Ryan Howard continues to look miserable at the plate going 0-4 with a pair of Ks. Raul Ibanez did get two hits and drove in the Phillies only run of the night.
The Phillies will begin inter-leauge play tomorrow as the defending AL champion Texas Rangers come to town.