May 26 -- GETTING OFFENSIVE

HOUSTON -- Think back, for just a moment, to last Monday night. The Phillies opened a seven-game road trip in Washington by getting shut out by Nationals journeyman Tim Redding. One night later, they didn't score for eight innings, raising their scoreless drought to 17 innings, until Greg Dobbs' game-winning, pinch-hit single.

Now consider what happened here yesterday.

Cole Hamels finally had a lousy start. He lasted only four innings, his his shortest outing since Sept. 18 when his still-healing elbow left him on a restrictive pitch count. He hadn't lasted less than six innings in a start this season, and for only the second time in 62 career starts, he didn't strike out a batter. And, by the sixth inning, the Phillies were trailing 6-4 and in danger of finishing the road trip with a losing record.

That's when the offense went crazy.

The Phillies scored five runs in the sixth inning. Then, they scored six more in the seventh. Shane Victorino and Chase Utley each had three RBIs. Geoff Jenkins (above) had three hits. Dobbs picked up another clutch pinch-hit. And, thanks to the same hitters that looked so feeble in DC, they flew home last night with a 4-3 mark on the trip.

That's how it goes sometimes for teams like the Phillies that are built on power. Offense comes and offense goes. Most of the time, the Phillies' offense is present and accounted for. They led the league in runs in each of the past two seasons, and when Utley, Jimmy Rollins, Ryan Howard and Pat Burrell are all swinging the bat well at the same time, there are few teams more firepower. So far, the Phillies' mighty offense has been mighty inconsistent. But if the past five games are any indication, the bats may be heating up like the Houston weather -- and it was sizzling here this weekend. Since last Tuesday, the Phils have scored 40 runs and batted .325 (63-for-194).

***

Over the past 10 years, Jenkins has averaged 27 home runs and 90 RBIs per 162 games. But, this season, he has only three homers and 10 RBIs in 138 at-bats for the Phillies. He went deep yesterday, an encouraging sign for Charlie Manuel. I asked Manuel after the game if Jenkins will play tonight against Rockies lefty Jorge De La Rosa. Manuel said he'd consider it. Jenkins has only 15 at-bats against lefties this season, but if he doesn't play tonight, when he's on a 11-for-28 roll and Jayson Werth is on the DL, he'll never start when a lefty is on the mound.

***

Within the Phillies notebook, there's news of some sweet redemption for Victorino, pitching coach Rich Dubee's psychoanalysis of Brett Myers and a massive headache for umpire Jerry Crawford, who hails from Delaware County.

***

Minute Maid Park was sold out for the final three games of the Phillies-Astros series. I'm sure that had something to do with the players on the field, especially the Astros, who are exceeding everyone's expectations. But three promotional giveaways, including bobbleheads of Roy Oswalt and Jeff Bagwell, probably was a big draw. (No word on whether Larry Andersen took home one of those Bagwell dolls).

Anyway, I thought it was ironic that fans received Bagwell bobbleheads on the same day a New York Daily News report linked the former Astros slugger with Kelly Blair, the owner of a Texas gym who allegedly supplied performance-enhancing drugs to Roger Clemens, Andy Pettitte and other professional athletes.