Dodgers Outlast Astros

Eric Gagne dug a hole Sunday he might not escape.

The Dodgers eventually did because of Tim Bogar and their bullpen--overcoming a five-run deficit in a wild 9-8, 10-inning victory capped on Bogar’s two-out, pinch-hit home run at Enron Field.

Bogar, a former Astro infielder hitting for reliever Mike Fetters, sent a 2-and-1 pitch from reliever Octavio Dotel (2-4) off the facade above the left-field seats, giving the Dodgers the lead on his first hit of the season and his first career pinch-hit homer.

“It’s a good feeling to finally help this team,” said Bogar, who has played in only seven games because of a recurring hamstring injury. “I had a pretty good spring and thought I was going to be able to help this team a lot more, but I had that early injury and kind of feel like dead weight.

“I didn’t think anything [good] was going to happen. It’s frustrating when you’re trying to come back and you keep injuring the same thing.

“I finally caught a [break] and helped the team win a game. It’s a pretty good feeling.”

Closer Jeff Shaw--the Dodgers’ seventh pitcher--completed the bullpen’s 7 1/3 scoreless innings with the help of a heads-up play by shortstop Alex Cora, and a bonehead play by Houston’s Glen Barker.

With one out in the 10th and the Barker at second, Cora caught pinch-hitter Orlando Merced’s pop-up on the outfield grass and noticed Barker had wandered too far off the bag.

Cora threw to second baseman Mark Grudzielanek for a game-ending double play that stunned the 38,038 who watched the Astros squander an 8-3 lead after the third inning.

Shaw nailed down his National League-leading 17th save in 18 opportunities and the victory for Fetters (2-1), who worked 1 1/3 strong innings after several rough outings.

Tom Goodwin established a personal best with five of the Dodgers’ 16 hits, scored three runs, had stolen bases Nos. 11 and 12 and tied the score, 8-8, in the eighth with an infield single.

Shawn Green had three hits, pulling the Dodgers within 8-7 in the seventh on a 449-foot, two-run home run to center--his team-leading 13th--against reliever Nelson Cruz.

Gagne is struggling and might soon be in the minors after his third consecutive abysmal outing, Kevin Brown will miss his next start because of an inflamed nerve in his neck and the club begins a four-game series against the division-leading Arizona Diamondbacks, winners of nine in a row, tonight at Bank One Ballpark.

But for a day, Manager Jim Tracy had reason to smile.

“For this club to come back and do this . . . it was just a phenomenal performance,” said Tracy, whose team improved to 10-17 on the road.

“The bullpen, the effort by this entire team, in the most unlikeliest of situations.

“It’s just a fabulous win for this team.”

Gagne’s ongoing problems tempered the Dodger mood.

The Astros pounded Gagne for six hits--Vinny Castilla had a two-run homer and a grand slam--and eight runs while chasing the right-hander after only 2 2/3 innings, though the Dodgers persevered and avoided being swept in the three-game series.

The Dodgers hoped Gagne could control his emotions and provide an effective performance, but he again was overwhelmed by the weight of his high expectations, the success of rookie starter Luke Prokopec and the impending return of starter Andy Ashby.

Gagne hit three batters with pitches, increasing his league-leading total to 10, and his earned-run average jumped from 5.16 to 6.05. He is 0-2 and winless in his last eight starts, and has a 13.50 ERA in his last three.

Although it appears Gagne needs time to regroup, the Dodgers seemingly do not have many rotation options.

Ashby is still sidelined because of a strained right elbow, and setup man Terry Adams will start Tuesday in place of Brown.

“It’s another situation, obviously, that we’re going to have to sit down and take a look at,” Tracy said.

“The first home run that Castilla hit [in the second inning], up to that point he was aggressive. I know it was very early in the game, but he was making pitches. He was throwing his curveball and his changeups for strikes.

“When Vinny hit the home run off of him, he completely altered his course. He lost his aggression. He was completely missing his spots, he started rushing, and as a result his changeup got harder [to throw].

“He eventually painted himself into a corner.”

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