Playing against Tigers not strange for Benoit

SAN DIEGO -- Padres reliever Joaquin Benoit enjoyed visiting with several of his former Tigers teammates during the series at Petco Park, but as they said farewell to each other on Sunday, the right-hander said the weekend reunion did not feel strange.

"Not really," said Benoit, who spent the past three seasons with the Tigers. "It's part of the game. Last year I was there, this year I'm here. It was good to see them. They were a really good part of my last three years."

Seeing Brad Ausmus pulling the levers in the dugout instead of former manager Jim Leyland was a bit strange, Benoit acknowledged.

"It's a little different," he said. "But I think Jim Leyland made the right decision. He got a good run. For him to go, it's hard for baseball."