CINCINNATI -- Armando Benitez inched the bottoms of his Giants workout shorts above his knees in the visitors' clubhouse at Great American Ball Park on Monday, and no explanation was needed as to why.

The right one was twice as puffy as the left, and hurting twice as much, the hinges riddled with debilitating arthritis and showing the wear and tear from 12 years of pitching in the big leagues.

Benitez may be 33, but his knees and elbow seem far older. Arthritis, though, is the chief culprit for the closer resting for several days, allowing veteran Mike Stanton to ostensibly be the game finisher.

Typically, "Papi" said there were "no excuses" for his rough ride and inconsistent performances this season, and while not immune to the criticism from fans for eight blown saves and other games such as last Saturday's in Chicago when he allowed a homer, a rifle-shot single off the ivy and a walk in the ninth, he admits there are legitimate reasons.

"Because of the knees, I have to use my arm more, and I feel it a little bit," said Benitez, unable to get that desired push off the mound with his right leg, the crucial ignition point for pitchers' power.

"It's hurting the team, and I'm not trying to be a superhero by pitching," he said. "But I need the rest now. Last year when I came back so quick [from surgery after his hamstring tendons were ripped from the bone], it healed good, but the muscles are not together."

Benitez said that has affected his knees, hamstring and ankles.

"Yeah," he said, when asked if the right knee is more swollen now than any time this season. "The left one is still sore. When you don't have your legs, you've got nothing. No matter how hard you try, it's not easy."

Hence what manager Felipe Alou called the closer throwing uphill, not downhill, the pitches sailing high into the strike zone.

Making it worse, Benitez said he slipped while covering a play behind third base in Atlanta in light rain and aggravated the right knee.

He also says he's pitched despite being in pain, because "I'm trying to help the team. Hey, every pitcher gets hurts. It is frustrating when you know what you can do in the game, and it's bad when you can't."

Stanton the man: Alou says the 39-year-old Stanton has been a boon to the bullpen since being acquired from Washington on July 28 for Minor League hurler Shairon Martis, noting the left-hander "will never say he can't pitch.

"We didn't know we were getting a closer," added Alou, as Stanton has saved five games overall, including saves in his last two games and in three of his last four outings.

"He throws from over the top and has that slow curve," said Alou. "He's been good for us."

Veterans to rest: Barry Bonds, who hammered a dazzling array of howitzer shots into the right-field seats at this riverside ballyard in batting practice, is expected to get Wednesday's afternoon game off then rest on Thursday's off-day.

The same applies for shortstop Omar Vizquel, who merely had two triples, a single and three RBIs on Sunday against Chicago, but who admits he's tired.

Munter gets stronger: Right-handed reliever Scott Munter, recalled from Double-A Connecticut prior to last Friday's game at Wrigley Field, says his sinkerball is back after considerable mechanical tweaking and repetition this year.

A faulty delivery caused that pitch to flatten out with the Giants earlier in the year, and it didn't help that he underwent right elbow surgery over the winter.

There was another factor as well. Munter said an Achilles tendon problem made it impossible to run, and stationary bicycle exercise wasn't enough, but he's slimmed down considerably and is now doing extensive running to keep his legs strong.

"It's been a good year and I've been trying to get back in shape and continue to get better," said Munter. "I'm learning to get my mechanics consistent. It's been real good working with [Connecticut pitching coach] Bob Stanley and I have to build on it."

Alfonzo OK after scare: Catcher Eliezer Alfonzo suffered a left forearm contusion on an Aaron Harang pitch in the fourth inning Monday and admitted he thought a bone had been broken.

It wasn't.

"I'll be ready tomorrow," said the rookie.

Coming up: Veteran right-hander Matt Morris (10-11, 4.57 ERA), who'll oppose the Cincinnati Reds on Tuesday night at Great American Ball Park, has won his last two starts to snap a four-game losing streak.

Against Cincy, Morris is 6-1 over his last seven starts and is on a four-game win skein. The Reds send right-hander Bronson Arroyo (11-9, 3.48) to the hill.