Gagne Sticks Around Too Long

Determined to help pitcher Eric Gagne have a positive experience in his major league debut last Tuesday, Dodger Manager Davey Johnson removed Gagne although he had cruised through six scoreless innings.

Johnson gave the rookie more room to work in his second outing Sunday night, and the outcome was disappointing for Gagne and the Dodgers during a 10-3 series-ending loss to the New York Mets.

With a 3-2 lead in the sixth, Johnson left Gagne on the mound to face the the heart of the Mets’ formidable lineup. The Mets took control of the game with four hits and three runs against Gagne, ruining his first start at Dodger Stadium before a crowd of 34,685.

A two-out, two-run double by Shawon Dunston gave the Mets a 4-3 lead, and then Benny Agbayani added a run-scoring single. After chasing Gagne (0-1), the Mets scored four runs in the seventh and one in the ninth to put the game out of reach.

Catcher Mike Piazza drove in two runs with a single in the Mets’ four-run seventh. In 16 career games against his former team, Piazza is batting .339 with four home runs and 14 runs batted in.

Met starter Kenny Rogers (5-0) remained perfect since being acquired from the Oakland Athletics on July 23 despite giving up 10 hits in seven innings.

The Mets (88-56) took three of four from the Dodgers after the Dodgers did the same to the Mets in July at Shea Stadium. New York now trails the Atlanta Braves by only two games in the National League East division.

The Dodgers (66-77) have lost six of seven. Shortstop Mark Grudzielanek went four for five with two doubles to raise his batting average to a team-high .326, and second baseman Eric Young went three for four in the leadoff spot.

But it was just another wasted night in a wasted season that can’t end soon enough for the Dodgers.

Gagne felt he was to blame after giving up six hits--including a home run--and five runs in six innings. But with this bunch, there’s usually plenty of blame to go around.

“I was happy he had confidence in me; that made me feel good,” Gagne said of Johnson sticking with him in the sixth. “I just wish I could have done better, but this is a learning experience for me.”

Gagne had an outstanding outing in his debut against the Florida Marlins at Pro Player Stadium, a 2-1 Dodger loss. The 23-year-old Canadian gave up only two hits while striking out eight and walking one in a no-decision.

However, the Marlins aren’t the powerful Mets.

The Mets have arguably the best everyday lineup in the game, which Gagne learned in the first inning.

Met leadoff batter Roger Cedeno hit a ball into the gap in left-center that bounced over the wall for a ground-rule double. Then Edgardo Alfonzo worked a 2-and-1 count against Gagne before hitting a two-run homer to left field.

Alfonzo reached 100 runs batted in with his 25th homer, joining third baseman Robin Ventura and Piazza in the 100-RBI club. That marked the first time three players have accomplished the feat in the same season in franchise history.

“I was nervous in the bullpen,” Gagne said. “I’m always nervous before I pitch, and I didn’t have my good stuff.

“I felt better after the first inning. I just made a mistake on a changeup on the homer, and I just made three bad pitches [in the game]. I just have to keep learning.”

Gagne helped himself by driving in the Dodgers’ first run in the third with a grounder, and scored the go-ahead run in the fifth after singling for his second hit in the big leagues.

Johnson sent Gagne back to the mound in the sixth because he had not given up a hit since Alfonzo’s homer in the first, and the Mets had only two baserunners against him during that span.

The manager wanted to observe the rookie work with a one-run lead, but the results were not what Johnson wanted.

“I still thought he threw good,” Johnson said. “The way he went after them after he gave up the two runs in the first. I still thought it was a good outing.”