Gagne’s Slow Start Out of His Control

Dodger officials gushed about rookie Eric Gagne during his five-start audition last season, saying the right-hander was tougher--and potentially better--than some already in the starting rotation.

They may be right, but Gagne still has work to do after another difficult outing Thursday in an 8-7 split-squad loss to the Atlanta Braves at the Disney World sports complex.

Gagne labored in a three-inning start, giving up four hits and five runs in his second subpar performance.

The young pitcher gave up six hits and seven runs in 1 2/3 innings Sunday in a 10-7 loss to the New York Mets. Todd Zeile touched him for a three-run homer in that game, and Andruw Jones hit one off him Thursday, so Gagne, who gave up three homers in 30 innings with the Dodgers in September, has given up two in 4 2/3 innings this spring.

Gagne has been throwing too high in the strike zone. With two out in the first Thursday, he walked Chipper Jones and Brian Jordan. Andruw Jones then homered off the left-field scoreboard.

“He’s worried about way too many things right now,” Manager Davey Johnson said. “There are just way too many things going on up there [in Gagne’s mind]. I’ve told him to just relax and have fun. I’m the one supposed to be worrying, not him.”

Gagne agrees.

“I’m a control pitcher and I’m everywhere in the zone right now, and I can’t do that,” he said. “I just have to focus on maybe not trying to throw so hard.

“I just have to hit my spots and get the good sink on the ball. I’m getting ready for the season, I’m not here to throw no-hitters.”

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Devon White robbed the Braves’ Randall Simon of a grand slam in the fourth inning with a leaping catch over the center-field wall.

With two out and the bases loaded, White--a seven-time Gold Glove winner--went over the wall in straightaway center to end the inning, making the catch at the 400-foot marker. White is battling Todd Hollandsworth for the starting job. . . . The Dodgers also lost, 5-2, to the Kansas City Royals at Dodgertown, dropping to 1-8. Starter Kevin Brown gave up one run in four innings and Todd Hundley and Adrian Beltre homered. Setup man Alan Mills, who might be traded, gave up four runs in the eighth inning.

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The Carlos Perez watch resumes Saturday when the struggling left-hander is to face the St. Louis Cardinals at Jupiter.

Perez was pounded for six hits and five earned runs Monday in his first inning in a 17-3 loss to Baltimore. He had control problems in the two-inning outing.