You know your pitching staff has had a tough night when noted speedsters Ryan Howard and Pat Burrell hit triples in back-to-back innings.

Of course, it's nothing to worry about if you're a Boston Red Sox fan. Bartolo Colon is hardly a good long-term fantasy asset, and 60-year-old Mike Timlin did the rest of the damage. Two old, past-their-prime pitchers got hit. Things are still fine for the defending champs.

Things are also fine in Philly. Fantasy owners have enjoyed the play of potential MVP Chase Utley and suddenly trusted Burrell, but Howard's owners are still complaining about a batting average that topped the .220 mark on Monday for the first time since April 5. Howard's triple was a bomb to center field that ticked off the glove of diving center fielder Jacoby Ellsbury, and seeing the speed and head-first slide to third base was quite a rousing sight, but the two opposite-field home runs Howard hit earlier off Colon were more telling.

When the lefty hitting Howard is hitting the ball 400 feet to left field, good things are happening with his swing, and he's showing progress the past few weeks. In fact, while you were whining about his average, Howard has been terribly hot, with a pair of multi-homer games since Friday, and four games with four or more RBIs over his past eight games. The last major leaguer with four such RBI games in an eight-game span was Albert Belle in 2000. All told, despite the slow start, Howard is tied with San Diego's Adrian Gonzalez for the NL lead in RBIs, and those first basemen each have 19 home runs, just three behind Utley. Howard is on pace for 43 home runs and 140 RBIs, pretty much what he did in 2007.

Well, the batting average does remain low, and if you're one of the rare fantasy players in a league in which hitters' strikeouts count, then Howard shouldn't be coveted, since he's on pace to break his own major league record for whiffs. But hey, you're getting the power. Howard's batting average isn't likely to approach .300 -- he somehow hit .313 in 2006 -- if he continues this pace for 218 strikeouts. He also isn't hitting many singles, which means he's become an all-or-nothing hitter, a similar-but-better version of Adam Dunn. By the way, you probably think Dunn is a lot older than Howard, since this is his eighth season and Howard's fifth. Actually, Dunn is all of 10 days older, that's it.

Don't sweat this shocking revelation in fantasy, though. Dunn hits 40 homers every year, and you know if you draft him, you would have been smart to select Ichiro Suzuki a few rounds earlier. Howard isn't at that point yet, where you have to assume he's hurting your batting average, but he's probably on his way. He's still capable of lifting that average well above .220, maybe into the .260 range again.

As for the odds of Howard and Burrell each hitting a three-bagger in the same game, the duo entered the proceedings with combined career totals of 15 triples in 1,699 games. Just call it one of those nights, Red Sox fans, and go get 'em Tuesday.

• Past editions: 6/16: Wang out of action | 6/15: Headley to rescue | 6/14: New York mess

Lost in yet another Phillies outburst was fine performance from Cole Hamels, who has averaged eight innings in his past three outings and allowed just four runs in that span. Oddly, all four runs have come on solo home runs. Hamels delivered his ninth quality start, tying him with Adam Eaton for the club lead. No, really. … Opposing pitcher Colon, however, threw four messy innings, permitting three home runs and six hits. Colon had allowed two home runs in his previous five starts. The team said he was pulled from the game not because Howard and pals were pounding him, but due to back tightness, no doubt suffered with his wild, flailing swings at the plate. Hamels fanned Colon twice. See, Hank Steinbrenner was right, AL pitchers should not hit. … Manny Ramirez was back in the lineup for the Red Sox, but he wasn't effective, going 0-for-4 and hitting into a double play. In daily leagues, he might get a rest Tuesday or Wednesday, or both. … On a night with only five games Howard wasn't the only player to hit multiple home runs. Detroit's Marcus Thames hit a pair off Tim Lincecum, meaning seven of his 12 home runs have come off right-handed pitching this season. … In Anaheim, the Mets' Carlos Beltran hit home runs in the first and third innings off Jered Weaver, and also stole a base. Fantasy owners whine quite a bit about Beltran, but he is on pace for a 23/21 season, with 110 RBIs and 120 runs. You want something to whine about? With Beltran acting as the DH Monday, New York's starting outfield was Marlon Anderson, Endy Chavez and Trot Nixon. Wow! … Fantasy owners have been adding Angels middle reliever Jose Arredondo, who entered Monday with a 0.69 ERA and no runs allowed in more than a month. Then the Mets, of course, scored twice off him in the seventh inning. … Jair Jurrjens was probably not a great spot start for Monday, since he had missed his last start with a sore ankle after falling down the Wrigley Field steps, and was pitching Monday at Coors Field. Then the right-hander delivered 7 2/3 scoreless frames over the Rockies, permitting eight hits and two walks, but no runs. Go figure. This was a makeup game from April 10, which was snowed out. Jurrjens leads all rookies with seven wins. … Meanwhile, opponent Ubaldo Jimenez, a fantasy darling a year ago, hasn't won since April 8, a span of 13 starts. Only two NL pitchers have issued more walks than Jimenez this season. … "Slumping" Chipper Jones singled twice and knocked in a pair of runs. He's not the only Brave in the lineup hitting .400. New left fielder Brandon Jones, recalled less than a week ago, singled twice and knocked in two, and now sports a .471 batting average in 17 at-bats. Neither of these fellas will hit .400. … Mariners manager John McLaren, spared his job for now while team GM Bill Bavasi was fired Monday, has decided the team will be better off with gold glove center fielder Ichiro Suzuki moving back to right field, where his lack of power is more evident, and where he last played in 2006. The seemingly meaningless tinkering paid no dividends Monday, as Ichiro singled in five at-bats, but stole his 30th base. Among those now vying for time in center include the offensively-challenged Jeremy Reed and Willie Bloomquist. The latter started in center field Monday, singled twice and raised his average to .189. Meanwhile, disappointing rookie Wladimir Balentien, who had stared in center, was sent back to the minors after the game, with fellow prospect Jeff Clement coming back to take his place on the roster. Maybe McLaren should move beleaguered pitcher Carlos Silva, who last won a game two months ago, to left field and really shake things up.