Closer, an ongoing series

Armando Benitez should serve as a useful reminder that you simply do not discard the greatest closer in the history of the game, then go down to The Closer Store and pick up a new "fireman."

The Dodgers (5-2) have scored four runs in their last at-bat three times in their last four games. They did it in victories over the Arizona Diamondbacks on Friday and Saturday.

But it's one thing to do it against the awful Diamondback bullpen. It's another to score four against new Giant closer Armando Benitez, who signed a three-year, $21-million contract during the off-season.

"I was pitching too quick to home plate and was a little bit wild," Benitez said. "It wasn't my day."

Having watched Benitez's career at Baltimore, the Mets, and the Yankees, I can assure Giants fans that they'll be seeing a lot of ninth innings like the one that took place in Chavez Ravine yesterday -- at least in games like that matter, such as those against your division rival in front of a packed stadium.

That the Giants would give the Big Guy $21 million and three years is testament to the lack of pitchers who can take the ball in big situations.