How many times did we see this last year?

Late innings of the ballgame.

Tying or go-ahead run in scoring position.

Two outs.

And who comes up to be the hero? Mark Sweeney.

If not him, Angel Berroa, Luis Maza, Danny Ardoin or any other of the countless dead-weights on the Dodger bench.

Imagine if a couple of those weak grounders had gotten through the infield — if a couple of those lazy fly balls had dropped in for base hits. How many more wins would the Dodgers have had? How much would their confidence have improved that when they got down late in games, all was not lost?

I theorized last October that if the Dodgers kept the starting lineup, rotation and bullpen virtually the same and focused on improving solely the bench, that improvement alone could be worth an extra 7-8 wins per year. Here we sit on April 25 and that number is already at two.

Look at who came up big last night.

Backup catcher Brad Ausmus had two key hits including the ninth-inning game-winner, but also scored the tying run when pinch-hitter Mark Loretta singled him in a frame prior.

Against those same Rockies at home last week, Loretta also singled in the game-winner in the seventh inning of a game the Dodgers trailed 3-0 up until their four-run outburst in that frame.

Further back, recall 2004, the most successful Dodger regular season in recent memory (93-69). Aside from Adrian Beltre’s breakout year and the late-season heroics of Steve Finley, remember who rode the pine in that season. Olmedo Saenz (.279, 8 homeruns), Jose Hernandez (.289, 13 homers), Jason Grabowski (.220, but still did pop seven), Robin Ventura (.243, 5 homers). Much better than the glory days of Mike Edwards, Wilkin Ruan, Daryle Ward and Bryan Myrow (the list goes on and on).

In other news, the Dodgers currently have the major leagues’ fourth lowest ERA, and the second lowest in the National League. Told ya so.