Win Streak Reaches Nine

The surging Dodgers got a strong performance from starter Eric Gagne, another game-winning home run from Gary Sheffield and increased their season-high win streak to nine games Wednesday night with a 4-3 victory over the San Francisco Giants before a sellout crowd of 54,636 at Dodger Stadium.

But the Dodgers’ best stretch since an 11-game winning streak in 1993 was stunningly overshadowed by Marquis Grissom’s umpire-shoving outburst in the first inning that undoubtedly will result in disciplinary action.

Grissom, who declined comment, appeared to poke and shove umpire Marvin Hudson after quickly being ejected for arguing an inning-ending called third strike from Giant starter Kirk Rueter.

Manager Jim Tracy, first-base coach John Shelby and first baseman Eric Karros eventually restrained Grissom, ending an ugly incident that will produce fallout.

“I’ve seen Marquis Grissom upset before, but I’ve never seen him that mad,” Tracy said. “I’ve never seen that man to the point where . . . myself and John Shelby were trying to get there, and he’s thrown out of the game before that even happens.

“Before we could even get close to him, [Hudson] had already thrown him out of the game.

“What Marquis said to me was that he hadn’t even cursed the man. To me, you fire a guy out and he hasn’t even cursed you . . . I just didn’t like the tone that was set in the first inning of the game. I haven’t seen ‘em [replays of Grissom’s at-bat] yet, and I’m not pointing fingers, but I know there were two pitches to Gary Sheffield in his first at-bat, and I’ll guarantee you those weren’t strikes.

“I haven’t seen [Grissom’s] yet, but I know there were two in Gary’s at-bat that weren’t even close.”

Hudson said Grissom made contact with him repeatedly.

“He made contact, both pointing and with his body,” Hudson said. “That’s what got him ejected. He cursed me. He just lost control and I tried walking away.

“I’ll file a report and send it in. [What happens is] up to Frank Robinson. I just write up a report and he takes care of the rest.”

Said crew chief Tim Welke: “[Grissom] got ejected because he cursed him, then the contact came after that.”

The Dodgers (47-37) put the incident aside and outperformed the Giants (44-40) again.

They have taken the first three games of the four-game series from the Giants, who had won three in a row before visiting Chavez Ravine.

Gagne pitched six scoreless innings in his first start since being recalled from triple-A Las Vegas.

He was optioned back to Las Vegas after the game to make room for reliever Mike Fetters, who was activated from the disabled list.

The right-hander is expected to be recalled again to start July 16 against the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park.

On Wednesday, Gagne gave up seven hits, had six strikeouts with a walk and left with a 3-0 lead.

Gagne wound up with a no-decision, though, because the Giants tied the score, 3-3, with three runs in the eighth against Giovanni Carrara--he gave up a two-run homer to Armando Rios--and Matt Herges (6-6).

Sheffield saved the Dodgers again in the bottom of the inning--hitting a 97-mph fastball from Felix Rodriguez over the wall in right-center for his 17th homer.

Sheffield also has won three 1-0 games for the Dodgers with homers.

Closer Jeff Shaw made it stand up, getting Rios on a grounder to second to end the game with Jeff Kent on first.

Shaw recorded his 24th save in 27 opportunities on the day he was selected to the National League All-Star team, and catcher Paul Lo Duca hit his 14th homer and third in two games.

But a club that has overcome many challenges now has another because of the Grissom situation.

“We’ll deal with it when it comes,” Tracy said of a probable fine and suspension.

“If, in fact, Marquis didn’t curse the man, to me, that’s an awfully quick hook. You didn’t even get an opportunity, as the manager and the coaching staff are on the move, to get to the point where we can get him out of there.”

The Giants’ Barry Bonds was held without a homer again and is homerless in his last nine games. He is three for 28 in that span.