Gagne’s Chances Fading

Rookie pitcher Eric Gagne stumbled again Monday in his attempt to make the Dodger starting rotation, leaving an opening for Carlos Perez.

The right-handed Gagne was pounded for the fourth time in as many exhibition outings, giving up seven runs in four innings during the Dodgers’ 7-6 loss to the Florida Marlins at Space Coast Stadium.

He continued to struggle with his control, despite walking only one. He gave up seven hits--two of them home runs--and his earned-run average ballooned to 15.63.

Gagne, 24, began spring training in the starting rotation on the strength of his brief audition last September. He went 1-1 with a 2.10 ERA and had four quality starts in five outings.

But now he is battling against struggling left-hander Perez for the final spot. Perez will move ahead if he pitches well Wednesday against the Montreal Expos at Jupiter, and Gagne will be optioned to triple-A Albuquerque before the season starts.

“It may not be the right time [for Gagne], let’s face it,” Manager Davey Johnson said. “He’s got a great future, but he’s making too many mistakes out there right now.

“We believe in him and a lot of people, not just in this organization, won’t even put [a ceiling] on how good this kid can be. But you have to look at the situation and judge it [for what it is]. You have to accept that, deal with it and do what you have to do.”

Gagne isn’t dealing with it very well.

“I’m the most unhappy man in the world,” he said.

“It’s so discouraging, I don’t know what to do. I’m living the worst three weeks of my life.”

And it figures to get worse if Perez continues to improve.

Perez, 0-2 with a 10.00 ERA, had his first encouraging appearance in his last start against the St. Louis Cardinals. He impressed Johnson with his mechanics.

Of course, Perez benefited from a wide strike zone, and most of the Cardinals’ everyday players sat out. But if his mechanics are good again against the Expos, Perez will be in the starting rotation, at least early in the season, because he’s owed $5 million this season and $7.5 million next.

Two scouts from other National League teams said recently that Gagne simply isn’t ready. One said Gagne has been tipping his pitches.

“He’s just going through the same thing a lot of young pitchers trying to make clubs go through,” pitching coach Claude Osteen said. “He’s just overthrowing. Not a lot, but to the point where he’s not making his pitches.”

Gagne hopes to impress Johnson in his two remaining scheduled starts.

“I’ve got to show Davey something in my last two games,” he said. “I’ve got to show him.”

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Right fielder Shawn Green hit his third homer of the spring--a two-run shot in the third inning against starter Ryan Dempster. . . . Nonroster reliever Mike Fetters pitched a 1-2-3 eighth. The right-hander, who already has made the team, has pitched three perfect innings. . . . The Dodgers dropped to 4-15-1.