Dodgers Go Deep, but Gagne Just Plain Gone

Rookie pitcher Eric Gagne struggled again in his final start for the Dodgers before returning to the minor leagues, but his teammates enjoyed themselves Thursday afternoon in a 16-11 victory over the Colorado Rockies.

The Dodgers had a season-high 20 hits before 40,724 at Coors Field, and Adrian Beltre’s third-inning grand slam helped them match the single-season franchise record with eight.

They also had their most hits since getting 22 against the Rockies here July 14, 1997. On Thursday, right fielder Shawn Green was the only Dodger starter without a hit.

Third baseman Beltre and shortstop Alex Cora had the best performances in another wild--and long--Coors Field show.

The Nos. 7 and 8 batters sparked the Dodgers after the Rockies took a 3-0 lead in the first. Beltre and Cora combined for eight hits, three home runs and 11 runs batted in during the 3-hour 49-minute game.

Gagne was chased with one out in the fifth and optioned to triple-A Albuquerque after the game to make room on the 25-man roster for Ismael Valdes, reacquired from the Chicago Cubs on Wednesday. Left-hander Onan Masaoka (1-0) got the win after working the final two-thirds in the fifth and also was optioned so reliever Gregg Olson could be activated.

The third-place Dodgers (54-47) kept the heat on the Arizona Diamondbacks and San Francisco Giants in a tight National League West race.

The fourth-place Rockies (49-51) continued to stumble despite the Dodgers’ four errors and their 15 hits, including Larry Walker’s eighth-inning, two-run, 445-foot homer to the upper deck in right against Mike Fetters. It was only the 13th ball hit there.

The Dodgers trail the second-place Giants (55-44) by two games and the division-leading Diamondbacks (57-45) by 2 1/2 after completing another exciting trip to one of the major leagues’ best launching pads, taking three of four. Two supporting players had leading roles in the final game.

“It takes all 25 guys to go out there and put it on the line,” said left fielder Gary Sheffield, who had three run-scoring singles. “When you get production out of the seven and eight hitters like we did today, it helps the top of the lineup relax.

“You can be more selective and look for your pitches. That’s what you need to be a championship club.”

Beltre hit his second grand slam of this season and his career. The ’52 Brooklyn Dodgers and ’77 L.A. team also hit eight grand slams.

He established a personal best with six runs batted in, and matched his career high with four hits. His slam against Colorado starter Kevin Jarvis was the big blow in a six-run inning, helping the Dodgers take a 7-3 lead.

Surprisingly, Cora provided even more power.

The light-hitting shortstop had his first multi-homer game, hitting Nos. 2 and 3. Cora homered in the third only moments after Beltre returned to the dugout, marking the fourth time the Dodgers hit consecutive homers.

Cora’s three-run homer in the fifth, to left-center, against reliever Giovanni Carrara (0-1) capped the Dodgers’ four-run inning. It put them ahead for good after the Rockies tied the score, 7-7, in the fourth. Cora also set career marks with four hits and five RBIs.

“That’s the good thing about today, that A.B. had six RBIs and I had five,” said Cora, who uncharacteristically committed two errors. “It can’t be Sheff, or E.K. [Eric Karros] or Greenie every day. We all have to contribute.”

Beltre agreed.

“You need everybody to do the job,” said Beltre, who hit his first grand slam May 21 against the Florida Marlins in a 12-3 victory at Pro Player Stadium. “If we keep doing that, we’re going to be a great team.”

Gagne hoped to remain with the team but said he doesn’t deserve to because of his shaky performance and Valdes’ arrival.

“I didn’t get the job done,” said Gagne, who gave up 11 hits and eight runs, five earned. “Valdes is going to come in and do a good job, and that’s what we need.

“I’m not upset about going down, I deserve it, I’m disappointed in how I pitched. I’m learning a lot, I just have to go get some experience and confidence.”

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ROCKY MOUNTAIN HIGH

A look at the combined numbers in Thursday’s Dodger game at Denver:

Runs 27

Unearned runs 9

Hits 35

Doubles 6

Home runs 5

Errors 6

Batting avg. .398

ALSO

SECOND CHOICE?

The Dodgers tried to acquire Kevin Tapani before settling for Ismael Valdes.

Page 10

No Slam Funk

Adrian Beltre’s grand slam Thursday was the team’s eighth, tying a franchise record set in 1952 and equaled in 1977:

1952--Roy Campanella (2), Carl Furillo (2), Gil Hodges (2), Andy Pafko, Pee Wee Reese.

1977--Ron Cey (3), Dusty Baker (2), Steve Garvey (2), Steve Yeager.

2000--Adrian Beltre (2), Shawn Green (2), Kevin Elster, Todd Hundley, Eric Karros, Gary Sheffield.

HOW THEY SCORED

FIRST INNING: Rockies 3, Dodgers 0

Goodwin singled to right. Goodwin stole second and took third on Hundley’s throwing error. Perez singled to center, Goodwin scoring. L. Walker walked. Helton flied to left. Hammonds singled to third, loading the bases. Cirillo singled to center, Perez and L. Walker scoring with Hammonds taking third. Mayne grounded into a double play. Three runs (one unearned), four hits, one error, one left.

SECOND INNING: Rockies 3, Dodgers 1--With two out, Hundley doubled to center. Beltre singled to right, Hundley scoring. Cora singled to center, Beltre stopping at second. Gagne forced Cora. One run, three hits, two left.

THIRD INNING: Dodgers 7, Rockies 3--With one out, Grudzielanek reached second on Cirillo’s error. Sheffield singled to center, Grudzielanek scoring. Green forced Sheffield. Karros singled to left, Green stopping at second. Green took third on Mayne’s throwing error on a pickoff attempt. Hundley was walked intentionally. Beltre homered to center, his ninth. Cora homered to left, his second. Gagne popped to second. Six runs (all unearned), four hits, two errors.

Dodgers 7, Rockies 5--L. Walker doubled to right. Helton grounded to first, L. Walker taking third. Hammonds walked. Hammonds stole second. Cirillo singled to right, L. Walker scoring with Hammonds taking third. Mayne grounded to first, Hammonds scoring with Cirillo taking second on Cora’s error. Shumpert walked. Huskey, batting for Jarvis, flied to center. Three runs, two hits, one error, two left.

FOURTH INNING: Dodgers 7, Rockies 7--With one out, N. Perez reached first on Cora’s error. L. Walker singled to center, N. Perez taking third with L. Walker taking second on White’s error. Helton singled to center, Perez and L. Walker scoring. Hammonds struck out. Cirillo grounded to second. Two runs (both unearned), two hits, two error, one left.

FIFTH INNING: Dodgers 11, Rockies 7--Green walked. Karros singled to left, Green taking third. Hundley struck out. Beltre singled to right, Green scoring with Karros taking third. Cora homered to left, his third. Gagne and White struck out. Four runs, three hits.

Dodgers 11, Rockies 8--Mayne homered to right, his sixth. Shumpert singled to second. Shumpert stole second. Carrara struck out. Masaoka replaced Gagne. Goodwin flied to left. N. Perez popped to third. One run, two hits, one left.

SIXTH INNING: Dodgers 14, Rockies 8--Grudzielanek doubled to right. Sheffield singled to center, Grudzielanek scoring. Green struck out. Karros singled to right, Sheffield stopping at second. Hundley singled to left, Sheffield scoring with Karros stopping at second. Lee replaced Carrara. Beltre flied to left. Cora doubled to right, Karros scoring with Hundley stopping at third. Hansen, batting for Masaoka, walked, loading the bases. White flied to left. Three runs, five hits, three left.

Dodgers 14, Rockies 9--Adams pitching. L. Walker singled to center. Helton fouled to third. Hammonds doubled to right, L. Walker scoring. Cirillo grounded to third. Mayne grounded to first. One run, two hits, one left.

EIGHTH INNING: Dodgers 16, Rockies 9--Chouinard pitching. Beltre singled to left. Cora grounded into a double play. Donnels, batting for Adams, doubled to right. White singled to center, Donnels scoring. Grudzielanek singled to right, White stopping at second. Sheffield singled to third, White scoring with Grudzielanek stopping at second. Green lined to short. Two runs, five hits, two left.

Dodgers 16, Rockies 11--Fetters pitching. N. Perez singled to right. On defensive indifference, N. Perez took second. L. Walker homered to right, his seventh. Helton grounded to short. Hammonds walked. Cirillo grounded into a double play. Two runs, two hits.