High & Inside: NL Notes

A week ago, the Rockies' Jason Giambi was mired in a monthlong slump. Now, he's one of the hottest hitters in the National League, having homered five times in six games going into Wednesday night's game against Arizona.

The slump ended last Thursday at Citizens Bank Park, when Todd Helton's back starting acting up and manager Jim Tracy inserted the 40-year-old into the lineup. All of Philadelphia remembers what happened next: Giambi became the second-oldest player to homer three times in a game, and one of only four to do it in their 40s, joining Stan Musial, Babe Ruth, and Reggie Jackson. Also, he drove in seven runs.

Giambi said he's using a more upright batting stance that allows him to see the ball better and bring his big bat through the zone quicker - especially in hitter-friendly Citizens Bank Park while facing hitter-friendly Phillies pitchers Kyle Kendricks and Danys Baez.

Barry Bonds has offered to pay for the college education of the children of 42-year-old Bryan Stow, the Giants fan who was severely beaten outside Dodger Stadium on opening day, according to multiple news outlets.

Stow, a paramedic and a father of two, remained in critical condition Wednesday with brain damage at San Francisco General Hospital. The former Giants slugger visited Stow while he was hospitalized in Los Angeles and left a signed bat for Stow's children.

The Rockies have lost their best pitcher, Jorge De La Rosa, for the season with a torn ligament in his left elbow. He was hurt Tuesday afternoon against the Diamondbacks.

De La Rosa, 5-2 with a 3.51 ERA, will need Tommy John tendon replacement surgery, a procedure that will sideline the hard-throwing lefthander for a year.