Gagne Gives Impression That He Went About It All Wrong

Dodger officials believe rookie Eric Gagne will experience many great moments on the mound. His first Grapefruit League appearance Sunday wasn’t one of them.

The right-hander was pounded in a 10-7 loss to the New York Mets at Dodgertown, giving up six hits and seven runs in 1 2/3 innings.

Gagne struggled with his command while trying to impress decision-makers at Holman Stadium. A fourth-inning, three-run home run by Todd Zeile was among the hits off Gagne.

It was a rough first game for the young pitcher expected to earn a spot in the starting rotation, but Gagne isn’t worried.

“I tried to do a little too much,” Gagne said. “I tried to throw way too hard and strike out everybody. . . . I’m supposed to hit the corners, move the ball around and get good sink on it. I was trying to impress [Manager] Davey [Johnson], Tommy [Lasorda] and everybody else.”

Gagne, 24, made an impression last season during a September audition with the Dodgers. He went 1-1 with a 2.10 earned-run average in five starts with 30 strikeouts in 30 innings.

And that was after Gagne went 12-4 with a 2.63 ERA and 185 strikeouts in 167 2/3 innings at double-A San Antonio. He was selected the organization’s minor league pitcher of the year.

The Dodgers traded pitcher Ismael Valdes to the Chicago Cubs, in part, because General Manager Kevin Malone believes Gagne eventually will be as good as Valdes--if not better.

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Kevin Brown fared better against the Mets. The staff ace started and pitched three scoreless innings, giving up two hits and striking out two.

“Just a matter of getting into the swing of things and building stamina,” said Brown, 18-9 with a 3.00 ERA last season. “For the most part, I feel pretty good.”

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Third baseman Adrian Beltre hit a two-run homer in the fourth inning against reliever Dennis Springer with Dodger Chairman Bob Daly in attendance.

Daly, scheduled to return to Los Angeles after the game, plans to meet with agent Scott Boras by Wednesday in an attempt to negotiate a multiyear contract for Beltre.