Armando Benitez didn’t pitch very well yesterday after showing up at Shea just minutes before the game started.

The hard-throwing closer could not be found in time to comment on his tardiness and couldn’t be reached at home last night, but one team source said he arrived “two minutes before the National Anthem,” and another confirmed it saying, “I think he had some personal stuff to deal with.”

Whether from being late or not, Benitez did not have his best stuff yesterday. Although Al Leiter was charged with the runs, Benitez gave up the two-run double to Jay Bell in the eighth that gave the Diamondbacks a 3-2 lead the Mets would eventually overcome.

Benitez pitched 11/3 innings gave up two hits, walked one and struck out one.