Gagne Embraces Pressure of the Race

HOUSTON — The calendar Sunday turned to September, a month when the tension of the pennant race is more palpable, when every game, every at-bat, every pitch, is more magnified for those in contention.

It is not a time for the timid, nor would it seem to be a time for a closer who has not experienced intense pennant-race pressure. But if anyone doubts how Dodger reliever Eric Gagne will respond, they should have seen the gleam in his eye Sunday as he envisioned a month’s worth of high-stress situations.

“I can’t wait,” said Gagne, who passed his first September test--barely--with his 46th save in Sunday’s 2-1 victory over the Astros. “This is what it’s all about. Every game, every time you step on the mound, it counts.”

Gagne, in his first season as a closer, believes the last five months have prepared him for anything he might face in September and possibly October.

He retired three in a row after giving up two singles to lead off the ninth inning Sunday. He escaped a bases-loaded, no-out jam in St. Louis on July 5 and a runner-on-third, no-out jam in Baltimore on June 9.

“People say it’s different in the playoffs, and it might be,” Gagne said. “I’ve never been to the playoffs, and I couldn’t say, yes or no. But I think I’m ready. Stuff has happened, and I’ve dealt with it pretty well. There’s no reason to think that’s going to change.”

Mental toughness is usually the determining factor in whether a player wilts or thrives in September and October, and Dodger pitching Coach Jim Colborn believes Gagne ranks high in that department.

“He’s shown me more already than I ever thought he would show, so I won’t be surprised by anything he does,” Colborn said.

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Brian Jordan started in left field Sunday after missing all but one game since Aug. 9 because of a protrusion in his lower back, and Manager Jim Tracy said he will remain there on a regular basis, provided he is physically sound and productive.

That means Marquis Grissom, who is batting .308 in his last 22 games and played an integral part in the Dodgers’ August surge, when they went 18-10, will return to the bench except against left-handed starters.

Jordan batted fifth Sunday behind Adrian Beltre, going hitless in four at-bats, but Tracy hopes he evolves into the kind of consistent cleanup batter the Dodgers have lacked most of the season.

“I hope he forces my hand so strongly that there’s absolutely no question he needs to be the guy hitting behind Shawn Green,” Tracy said. “But it’s not fair to fire him into that spot when he just got off the disabled list.”

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After going 8-1 with a 2.90 earned-run average in April and May, Kazuhisa Ishii is 5-8 with a 6.14 ERA in the last three months, a skid that resulted in the left-hander being skipped in the rotation in Houston.

Walks have been Ishii’s biggest problem--he leads the major leagues with 100 of them, 18 more than the next highest pitcher--and Ishii needs to improve his control when he starts against Arizona Tuesday night.

“I have to concentrate on my form,” Ishii said. “The walks don’t bother me as long as we win games I pitch.”

ON DECK

Opponent--Arizona Diamondbacks, three games.

Site--Bank One Ballpark, Phoenix.

Tonight--5.

TV--Channel 13 tonight, Fox Sports Net 2 Tuesday night and Wednesday.

Radio--KXTA (1150), KWKW (1330).

Records--Dodgers 79-57, Diamondbacks 85-51.

Record vs. Diamondbacks--8-8.

TONIGHT

DODGERS’

ODALIS PEREZ

(12-8, 3.01 ERA)

vs.

DIAMONDBACKS’

RICK HELLING

(8-9, 4.14 ERA)

Update--Since taking nine days off in late July to return to the Dominican Republic to rest a tired arm and be with his newborn son, Perez has gone 2-1 with a 2.05 ERA in six starts, including an eight-inning, no-run, five-hit performance in a 1-0 victory over the Diamondbacks in Dodger Stadium last Wednesday.

Tuesday, 6:30 p.m.--Kazuhisa Ishii (13-9, 4.33) vs. Brian Anderson (6-9, 4.76).

Wednesday, 3 p.m.--Andy Ashby (9-10, 3.65) vs. Randy Johnson (19-5, 2.63).