Benitez Sidelined for Four Months

San Francisco Giant closer Armando Benitez is expected to be sidelined at least four months after tearing his hamstring while covering first base during Tuesday night’s game against the San Diego Padres.

The Giants put 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.

The injury occurred when 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 victory. First baseman J.T. Snow dived to his left to catch the ball and flipped to Benitez.

The 6-foot-4, 240-pound right-hander began to favor the hamstring a step or two before reaching the bag. He had to be helped off the field.

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The St. Louis Cardinals put closer Jason Isringhausen on the 15-day disabled list because of a strained right abdominal muscle.

Isringhausen had made a full recovery from off-season hip surgery, an injury that hindered him much of last season even though he tied for the National League lead with a franchise record-tying 47 saves.

In February, he signed a three-year, $25.75 million contract. He is seven for seven in save opportunities this season.

Isringhausen was injured in the ninth inning of Tuesday night’s 5-3 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers. He felt a twinge on his right side on ball four to pinch-hitter Chris Magruder, who walked on a full count.

The next pitch to Brady Clark was his 10th and last, doubling him over in pain. Now he’s on the disabled list for the fifth time since 1996 because of the problem spot below the last rib on his right side.

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Curt Schilling will be sidelined at least two weeks because of a bone bruise on his surgically repaired right ankle. The injury could be indirectly related to the operation he had last November, Boston General Manager Theo Epstein said, although the latest problem is higher in the ankle. Epstein said Schilling would go on the 15-day disabled list.

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C.C. Sabathia signed a two-year, $17.75-million contract extension with the Cleveland Indians that could keep the All-Star left-hander with the club through 2008.

The extension includes the Indians’ picking up their $7- million club option for 2006.

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Reliever Paul Shuey announced his retirement, ending his comeback with the Indians. The 34-year-old Shuey, who sat out last season for the Dodgers because of injuries, decided to retire after making an appearance for double-A Akron on Monday.

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Toronto Blue Bay Manager John Gibbons was given a two-year contract extension. Gibbons, signed through 2007, had received a one-year deal in October after leading the Blue Jays to a 20-30 record after Carlos Tosca’s firing.