Helton, Giambi get at-bats as dual DHs

TUCSON — In order to get more at-bats, Todd Helton and Jason Giambi served as dual designated hitters Sunday in a minor league game behind Hi Corbett Field. They batted every inning they played in the Triple-A game between Rockies and Diamondbacks minor leaguers.

Such rules alterations to accommodate a major league player are customary in minor league games .

Giambi, who is 2-for-10 in four Cactus League games, hit a long two-run homer to right field on his first at-bat, connecting on Blaine Boyer’s 1-1 pitch. Giambi struck out swinging on six pitches from left-hander Zach Kroenke and, on his final at-bat, Giambi flied out to the warning track in right field on a 2-2 pitch from Kris Benson.

Helton, who is 2-for-8 in three Cactus League games, struck out on three pitches against Boyer. He drove a 1-2 pitch from Kroenke to deep center on his second at-bat and faced Benson his final three trips to the plate. Helton lined out hard to right field on an 0-1 pitch, flied out to deep left with the count 2-2 and took a 3-2 pitch for a third strike.

“I still don’t feel right (at the plate),” Helton said. “Balls away, I’m definitely still jumping at the ball, and I’m not getting all the way back, which is something I’m working on. It’s just timing.”

Helton said he has felt more in synch at the plate at this point in spring training in the past. “But I think in the long run, it’s going to pay off.”

Helton played in 14 exhibition games and had 40 at-bats last spring and then went on to play 151 games in the regular season. But his energy level waned in September, and manager Jim Tracy, who has the option of spotting Giambi at first base for an entire season this year, said he will give Helton more rest this year. Along those lines, Tracy has not played Helton often in the first 2 1/2 weeks of exhibition games.

Seeing heart-of-the-order hitters like Helton and Giambi on a back field _ covered benches but no dugouts, a small set of bleachers six rows high behind home plate _ is akin to coming upon a Monet painting at a garage sale. With mostly minor league players watching along with a few fans and staff members, these two major league veterans were clearly the focal points every time they batted, from the moment they stepped on deck.

“You can kind of feel it,” Helton said. “That’s what I told Giambi after he hit his homer _ ‘You just need to take it in right now.’ But I like going back there and seeing the guys. And we’ve all been there. It’s good getting back there. That’s where it all starts _ back there.”