Giants lose closer Benitez to DL with hamstring strain
SAN FRANCISCO -- San Francisco Giants closer Armando Benitez is expected to miss four months after tearing his hamstring while covering first base.
San Francisco placed Benitez on the 15-day disabled list Wednesday, a day after his injury, but trainer Stan Conte said the reliever would be out for much longer after an MRI revealed that he tore his right hamstring tendons.
"The tear is complete with two of the three tendons that attach to his pelvis," Conte said. "This will require surgery to repair. This will take four months until he's competitive again."
Benitez is scheduled to undergo surgery Tuesday.
On Tuesday night, Benitez broke to cover first base after San Diego's Geoff Blum hit a sharp grounder down the line to end San Francisco's 6-5 win. First baseman J.T. Snow dove to his left to snare the ball and flipped to Benitez, and the 6-foot-4, 240-pound pitcher began to favor the hamstring a step or two before reaching the base.
Benitez (1-1) blew his second save in six chances but got the win Tuesday.
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| Armando Benitez had a remarkable year in 2004, posting 47 saves with a 1.29 ERA. (Getty Images) |
The loss of Benitez is a big blow for the Giants, who finally had a reliable closer this season to replace Robb Nen, who retired this spring after failing to come back from a series of shoulder operations.
Manager Felipe Alou will now rely on closer by committee, and he insists he isn't too concerned with the age of his team being a problem -- even though 40-year-old slugger Barry Bonds is sidelined recovering from knee surgery and right fielder Moises Alou already missed time with a right calf strain.
"You lose Bonds, Mo for two weeks and the closer, but I know in that room we have enough to win games," Alou said.
The Giants used several pitchers to fill in for Nen last season, including Matt Herges and then converted Dustin Hermanson from starter to closer late in the year.
The 32-year-old Benitez signed a $21.5 million, three-year contract Nov. 30, giving the club a closer with the fourth best regular-season career save percentage.
Last year, Benitez bounced back from a subpar 2003 season to save an NL-best 47 games in 51 chances and lead major league relievers with a 1.29 ERA for the Florida Marlins. He struck out 62 batters in 69 2/3 innings pitched.
