DODGERS REPORT : Gagne Hopes to Stick

Not surprisingly, Eric Gagne was drawn to hockey while growing up in Montreal, and he considered playing the sport exclusively as a teenager.

“Yeah, but I don’t think I was really good enough [to play in the NHL],” Gagne said. “I decided to stay with baseball.”

Good thing for the Dodgers.

Gagne turned his back on Canada’s national obsession for a sport more popular south of the border, giving baseball his total attention. He doesn’t regret his decision.

The 23-year-old pitcher impressed Tuesday in his major league debut, tossing six scoreless innings during a 2-1 loss to the Florida Marlins at Pro Player Stadium. For his efforts, Gagne has secured a spot in the starting rotation for the remainder of the season.

The rest is up to Gagne, and the confident young right-hander knows exactly what he wants.

“I want to be here, I want to be here for a long time,” Gagne said of the major leagues. “I knew I could pitch here, it was just a matter of getting a chance to do it.

“I did a good job, I had a good year [in the minors], and I have a lot of confidence. I just want to stay up here next year, and I’m going to keep working hard to do that.”

Gagne, whose fastball was clocked consistently at 93 mph Tuesday, took a step toward that goal with his sharp two-hit, eight-strikeout, one-walk performance against the Marlins. He threw 67 strikes in 100 pitches, and Manager Davey Johnson said he could have pitched at least another inning if that was needed.

It wasn’t because Gagne made his point.

“The criteria for a major league starter is two big league pitches, and to be able to throw both over [for strikes] at any time in the count,” Johnson said. “He’s got three quality pitches [fastball, changeup, curve] and he gets them over. I don’t care if you’re 12 years old, you can pitch in the big leagues if you can do that.”

Gagne, signed as an undrafted free agent in 1995, went 12-4 with a 2.63 earned-run average and 185 strikeouts for double-A San Antonio, and was selected the Texas League pitcher of the year. Gagne will soon be selected the organization’s minor league pitcher of the year.

“He did exactly what he did in San Antonio--he pitched,” farm director Bill Geivett said. “Sometimes you worry that a guy will change his approach when he comes to the big leagues for the first time, but he didn’t change his plan one bit. As pleased as you are with the performance, that consistency in the approach is just as important.”

ON DECK

* Opponent--New York Mets, four games.

* Site--Dodger Stadium.

* Tonight--7.

* TV--Fox Sports West 2 tonight and Sunday, Channel 5 Friday and Saturday.

* Radio--KXTA (1150), KWKW (1330).

* Records--Dodgers 65-74, Mets 85-55.

* Record vs. New York--3-1.

* Tickets--(323) 224-1HIT.

TONIGHT

DODGERS’ KEVIN BROWN (16-6, 3.10 ERA) vs. METS’ OREL HERSHISER (12-10, 4.61 ERA)

* Update--Brown is 6-0 with a 1.68 earned-run average in his last nine starts, and has victories in his last seven decisions. He is coming off his first shutout of the season Saturday in a 6-0 victory over the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field. Brown gave up two singles and struck out eight with a walk. The Mets are challenging the Atlanta Braves for the National League East division title, with Mike Piazza batting .316 with 33 home runs and 106 runs batted in. Piazza stirs things for the Mets, but he has lots of help. The infield of third baseman Robin Ventura, shortstop Rey Ordonez, second baseman Edgardo Alfonzo and first baseman John Olerud is considered the best in the game defensively.

* Friday, 7 p.m.--Darren Dreifort (12-13, 5.02) vs. Al Leiter (11-9, 4.28).

* Saturday, 7 p.m.--Ismael Valedes (9-13, 3.50) vs. Masato Yoshii (10-8, 4.86).

* Sunday, 5 p.m.--Eric Gagne (0-0, 0.00) vs. Kenny Rogers (4-0, 3.15).