By Gary Brooks
SportsLine Baseball Editor

Benes, Ortiz switch places

Andy Benes might have fit into the second-thought category and Russ Ortiz would have been a classic afterthought.

Andy Benes' 6.75 ERA is the worst of any NL starter. (AP)

As 30-plus games have played out, Ortiz may be the best in the West … and Benes may be the worst.

The San Francisco Giants knew Ortiz would be a crucial member of their rotation, but after a 4-4 record in 23 appearances (10 starts) last season, they didn't expect him to be 5-2 and have a sizzlin' 2.49 earned-run average, second best in the league.

Just when it appeared the Giants were up against a two-week run of games in which they'd be outpitched by the Braves, Diamondbacks and Astros, Ortiz led the stretch off by topping John Smoltz Monday night, giving up four hits in eight innings. It was his fourth victory in a row.

For Ortiz, a 24-year-old right-hander who in 1995 helped Oklahoma win the College World Series, beating Smoltz signaled he's arrived as an arm to be counted on. Just two seasons ago, he didn't see starting in the big leagues in his future. In his first 90 minor league appearances he had saved 48 games.

But in 1997, the Giants decided the former fourth-round draft choice should become a starter. Now he's won four in a row, is bashful upon praise, and just glad to be making his $220,000 and be in first place.

For the $6 million they are paying Benes this season, the Arizona Diamondbacks had much more reason to expect him to help key their emergence in the West.

Benes finished last season having won seven of his last nine decisions and didn't give up a run in his final 27 1/3 innings. That sizzle has turned to an overwhelming fizzle through his first seven starts of 1999.

In 38 2/3 innings, Benes (2-3) has given up 29 runs, including 11 home runs, for the worst ERA (6.75) of any National League starter. The 11 home runs allowed are also the most in the NL.

Benes has compounded his problems by walking more batters than ever before. His career strikeout-to-walk ratio is near 2.5-to-1, but this season he's walked 24 and struck out 22.

He's continually gotten himself into trouble and not been able to get out of it.

Sizzlin' ... the countdown

Three home runs will open some eyes but 10 RBI in a game is the real jaw-dropper, or blood-pressuer boiler in Seattle manager Lou Piniella's case. It's no surprise that Garciaparra's once-in-a-career game came against the Mariners' pitching staff which allowed Ivan Rodriguez to drive in nine runs in three innings in April.

The Kansas City Royals are glad Johnny Damon has become a father of twins because it has sent him on a batting tear. Damon has a 15-game hitting streak in which he's gone 26-for-63 (.413). He started so poorly that the streak hasn't even gotten him to .300 overall yet. The Royals have heated up along with Damon. During his streak, they've averaged seven runs a game.

Since May 1, the middle of the Pittsburgh Pirates' batting order -- Brian Giles, Kevin Young and Jason Kendall (who was switched from the leadoff spot to No. 5) -- has gone 51-for-119 (.429) with 7 home runs, 30 RBI and 32 runs. Their performance has helped the team carry a .323 average this month. That's why they've won seven of their last 10.

Luis Gonzalez continued the drama of the bash-happy Diamondbacks' first 34 games by hitting a two-run home run in the 10th inning Tuesday, extending his hitting streak to a career-best 24 games.

The Giants' rotation of the future looks bright with Ortiz (24), Joe Nathan (24) and 1998 No. 1 pick Jason Grilli (22) likely leading the way.

Fizzlin' ... the countdown

Not only have Seattle's top two pitchers -- Jeff Fassero and Jamie Moyer -- gone 3-8 with a 7.06 ERA, they're also 1-2 in the American League in pitches thrown with 871 and 870. They've combined to surrender 21 of the 50 homers Seattle pitching has allowed. And Seattle is using a four-man rotation for the next three weeks, which could inflate the two left-handers' numbers even further.

With nine wins in 35 games, the 1997 World Series champions are on pace for 44 wins. Another poor streak and they could make a run at the 1962 expansion New York Mets (40-120) as the worst team in modern history.

One reason the Detroit Tigers' offense has been weak is the odd season Gregg Jefferies is having. The Tigers' designated hitter has swung and missed the fewest times of anyone in the American League (10 of 172), but still has the lowest batting average (.183) in the league of anybody on pace for the 502 at-bats to qualify for the batting title.

The New York Mets' pitching staff had the best ERA in the National League for awhile and headed out on the road with an impressive 3.69 mark. In five games at Arizona and Colorado the team ERA has ballooned to 4.56, ninth in the NL and the Mets have dropped to third place in the East. Monday, Al Leiter fell to 1-4 with a 5.55 ERA in losing at Coors Field. Tuesday, it was Bobby Jones' turn to exhibit ERA inflation. He gave up eight runs before leaving in the sixth, taking his first loss and watching his ERA sky to 4.47.

Has been the NL's worst starter.