Saving Dodgers Will Be Tough

The race is on for the Dodgers.

No, not the National League wild-card race.

The Dodgers are still running in place in that one after a 2-1, 11-inning victory Wednesday night over the San Diego Padres at Qualcomm Stadium.

But the Dodgers have a chance to help closer Eric Gagne punctuate his record-setting season with the single-season mark for saves, and the right-hander moved closer to the top with his major league-leading 55th save before 23,231.

Gagne overcame a shaky outing for him while nailing down his record 63rd consecutive save in a 3-hour 19-minute game that also helped the Dodgers stave off elimination a little longer.

The Padres put two runners on in the 11th on a leadoff walk and a two-out single against Gagne, who got Gary Bennett to fly out to center.

Pinch-hitter Jolbert Cabrera’s one-out, run-scoring double put Gagne in position to move within two saves of the record Bobby Thigpen set in 1990 with the Chicago White Sox.

The Dodgers have five games remaining, and Manager Jim Tracy wants the Dodgers to do their part for the team’s brightest star.

“I’m very hopeful,” said Tracy, whose team improved to 84-73. “For what this man has done this year, it would be something very special for him to accomplish.

“Do I know for sure that it’s going to happen? No, I don’t. But I can tell you this much: The situations that come up, if the opportunity is there for him to get the chance to do it, he’s going to get the opportunity. He deserves that.”

Gagne expects to get the record.

“Yep, I sure do,” said Gagne, who matched the NL season record that Atlanta’s John Smoltz set last season. “We’re playing good. We’re playing good baseball and it’s fun.

“If I get a save that means a win for the team. That would mean a lot for me and the team.”

Said center fielder Dave Roberts: “Obviously for him to accomplish something like that would be pretty awesome.”

The Dodgers are running out of time to achieve the only team goal that would avert another disappointing season.

With their second victory in the four-game series that ends tonight, the Dodgers remained 3 1/2 games behind Florida in the NL wild-card race.

Kevin Brown had a strong seven-inning, one-run outing, but he didn’t get a decision. Paul Shuey (6-4) worked a perfect 10th for the victory.

The Dodgers will be eliminated from playoff contention if they suffer another two losses in their final five games, or the Marlins win twice in their last four games.

On Wednesday, Cabrera’s timely hit helped the Dodgers pull out their second 2-1 victory in as many nights against the Padres (62-96), who are last in the NL West.

Cabrera, hitting for Robin Ventura, doubled to shallow right with one out against Padre reliever Mike Matthews to drive in Roberts from third.

Roberts walked to open the 11th against Jay Witasick (3-6). After Paul Lo Duca flied out, Shawn Green -- who connected for his 19th home run in the first -- hit a chopper over Witasick’s head, and the left side of the Padre infield converged on the ball in front of the second base bag.

That was a problem for the Padres, considering third baseman Sean Burroughs wasn’t covering the bag and Witasick didn’t go there until Roberts, on a heads-up play, had reached third.

Padre Manager Bruce Bochy summoned left-hander Matthews to face the left-handed Ventura, and Tracy countered with the right-handed Cabrera.

On Matthews’ first pitch, Cabrera sent a sinking liner to right that dropped under the glove of Gary Matthews Jr. for a double that knocked in Roberts for a 2-1 lead.

“One out, men and first and third, I just tried to hit a ball past the infield,” said Cabrera, four for 19 as a pinch-hitter this season. “I got pretty lucky right there.”