Armando Benitez said the tendinitis in his right big toe felt better before yesterday’s game. Then in the 10th inning, he proved it.
Benitez retired the Brewers in the top of the inning, striking out two batters in the process and picking up the win when Jay Payton hit his three-run homer in the bottom half to give the Mets a 4-1 victory.
“I feel happy,” said Benitez, who is 4-4 on the season.
The problem, though, for Benitez – who said it wasn’t a problem for him yesterday – is that the toe is on the foot he uses to push off the rubber.
Benitez is receiving daily treatment, which consists of going in the whirlpool, ice and taking anti-inflammatory medicine. Benitez, who is third in the NL with 37 saves, also is not allowed to eat seafood, his favorite.
“He’s eaten enough for all of our lifetimes,” Valentine said of seafood, which can cause Benitez’ symptoms to worsen.
Valentine had Benitez up in the ninth inning, but didn’t use him as John Franco did his job.
*
The way the pitching rotation shapes up, the Mets will throw three left-handers against the Braves starting Monday. Mike Hampton, Glendon Rusch and Al Leiter are scheduled, in that order.
The pitching matchups for the four-game series with the Expos: tonight, Rusch (9-10, 4.06 ERA) vs. Mike Thurman (4-5, 5.35 ERA); tomorrow, Leiter (15-7, 3.17 ERA) vs. Javier Vazquez (9-7, 4.17 ERA); Saturday, Rick Reed (9-5, 4.20 ERA) vs. Dustin Hermanson (11-13, 5.02 ERA); Sunday, Bobby Jones (9-5, 5.21 ERA) vs. Tony Armas (5-8, 4.32 ERA).