Save Places Safer for Gagne

Closer Eric Gagne has been nearly invincible in save situations.

The right-hander has converted all 42 of his opportunities this season -- establishing a major league record -- with an earned-run average of 0.44 in those appearances. And Gagne has given up only 13 hits during that span (41 2/3 innings), striking out 74 with eight walks.

But Gagne isn’t the same working without a lead.

In 20 non-save situations, Gagne is 2-3 with a 3.47 ERA. He has 37 strikeouts in 23 1/3 innings, but has also given up 16 hits and walked nine.

“I think it’s just a coincidence,” said Gagne, who earned another save Thursday with a scoreless ninth inning in a 2-1 victory over the Montreal Expos.

“I know my mind-set is the same. I go out there and I’m as aggressive [as in a save situation].

“Even if it’s a tie game or we’re behind by one, I have the exact same mind-set. This year, it just happens that when it’s a tie game, I give up runs.”

Vladimir Guerrero’s solo home run in the ninth Wednesday against Gagne gave the Expos a 1-0 lead. The Dodgers tied the score and won the game, 4-1, on Adrian Beltre’s three-run homer in the 10th.

Gagne also escaped a two-out, two-on jam in the 10th.

“The last three or four times I was out there in a tie game [before Wednesday], I did great, so I’m not worried about it,” Gagne said. “I don’t change anything.”

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Backup catcher Todd Hundley, who has played in only 12 games and is rehabilitating from back surgery, is scheduled to begin a rehabilitation assignment Saturday with Class-A Vero Beach, Manager Jim Tracy said.

Depending on the condition of Hundley’s back after his flight to Florida, he would either catch for a few innings or be a designated hitter. The plan is for Hundley to remain with the Vero Beach Dodgers for the rest of the month and possibly rejoin the team when rosters are expanded Sept. 1.

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It appears Daryle Ward still isn’t in the Dodgers’ plans.

The left-handed batter was demoted to triple-A Las Vegas on July 24 after batting .183 in 109 at-bats, with no home runs and nine runs batted in. And Ward’s seemingly laid-back attitude also upset team officials.

So despite acknowledging that they have a hole on their bench, the Dodgers are in no hurry to bring back Ward, guaranteed $1.35 million this season.

When asked whether Ward would return when rosters are expanded, Tracy was noncommittal. Beginning play Thursday, Ward was batting .291 with one homer and 12 RBIs for the 51s.

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Right fielder Shawn Green, who left in the fifth inning of Wednesday’s game because of a stiff neck, was unavailable to play Thursday.

“It’s feeling a lot better now,” Green said after the game. “We’ll see.”

Green, third on the team with 60 RBIs, is listed as day to day.

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Kazuhisa Ishii, sidelined since Aug. 2 because of a sprained ligament in his left knee and scratched from a scheduled start Saturday, apparently was confused about what the Dodgers expect of him.

The Dodgers want Ishii to face batters before the left-hander rejoins the rotation, and Tracy said Ishii thought that meant he would have to pitch in Las Vegas, which he would prefer not to do.

“We cleared that up,” Tracy said. “We have batters here.”

ON DECK

Opponent -- New York Mets, three games.

Site -- Dodger Stadium.

Tonight -- 7.

TV -- Channel 13 tonight and Saturday.

Radio -- KFWB (980), KWKW (1330).

Records -- Dodgers 66-60, Mets 55-71.

Record vs. Mets -- 2-1.

Tonight, 7 -- Hideo Nomo (14-9, 2.75) vs. Al Leiter (12-6, 4.53).

Saturday, 7 p.m. -- Andy Ashby (3-9, 5.20) vs. Steve Trachsel (12-7, 4.20).

Sunday, 5 p.m. -- Kevin Brown (12-6, 2.25) vs. Tom Glavine (8-11, 4.55).