CHICAGO -- Jim Leyland has a simple answer for those who wonder why he used closer Joaquin Benoit on consecutive nights with big leads.

"I don't (expletive) around in ballparks where it goes out like a (expletive) ping-pong ball," Leyland said. "If they give me six runs, as a manager, I can't let that game get away without my best guy out there. That's what I believe."

Leyland

during his postgame session Wednesday night. The bullpen was a big topic of discussion again Thursday morning.

But let's take a second to review the events of the past two games first.

The Tigers held a 6-0 lead heading into the ninth inning Tuesday night. Al Alburquerque had just pitched extremely well in the eighth inning, so Leyland went with him to start the ninth. But Alburquerque walked the first two batters of the inning. Benoit came in and allowed a double that scored both runs but closed the door from there. The Tigers won, 6-2.

On Wednesday, Leyland used Bruce Rondon in the seventh and Drew Smyly in the eighth before inserting Luke Putkonen with a 6-1 lead in the ninth. Putkonen allowed a home run to Dayan Viciedo on the second pitch he threw, then recorded an out. Phil Coke entered the game and surrendered a hit to the only batter he faced, Alejandro De Aza, who hits left-handed. If Coke had retired De Aza, Leyand almost certainly would have left him in. But with only Al Alburquerque and Evan Reed as the other possibilities, Leyland went with Benoit, who shut the door in another 6-2 win.

"Other guys may differ on that," Leyland said of his decision to go with Benoit. "I don't piss around with potentially (Adam) Dunn and (Paul) Konerko and all those guys coming up in a bandbox. I've got to win that game. Not me, but we've got to win that game."

Leyland said Thursday morning that Benoit will not pitch today in the series finale under any circumstances. But he clearly felt that he needed to put a lock on the games Tuesday and Wednesday rather than rest Benoit for a save situation Thursday that may or may not develop.

"I don't like to take chances with the game in hand," Leyland said. "I mean, we might win 10-0 today, we might get beat 10-0. I've got to win that game."

Leyland didn't commit to a closer for the game Thursday and said it would depend on matchups. He said he would like to avoid using Rondon, who has pitched in three of the past four games, but would use him if necessary.

That means the most likely closer would be Smyly, with Alburquerque and Rondon as other possibilities.

The trade deadline is less than a week away and the Tigers are reportedly seeking bullpen help. Leyland always approaches the trade deadline as if the Tigers are not going to make any trades. He says that he feels it's his job to win games with the players he has and not concern himself with whether any new players will be in the clubhouse soon.

He feels that his current crop of relievers can get the job done. But he clearly expects some of them to step it up a bit.

"That's something that has to be addressed," Leyland said. "I mean within, not without, within. Like I said, I'm not upset about it. It's just a fact. If we have to use our closer with five- and six-run leads in the ninth inning, we've got problems. That should not happen. …

"They know it. And they're all capable of doing it. If they're not, we've got problems."

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