Arms and Hammer for Dodgers

Although the calendar indicated August had only begun, the Dodgers played as if everything was at stake Sunday in an October-like environment.

So Jim Tracy managed accordingly, Eric Gagne broke through another barrier, Robin Ventura delivered again off the bench and Darren Dreifort rebounded after disappointing on his first day in a big new job, helping the Dodgers outlast the San Diego Padres, 2-1, in 12 innings before a sellout crowd of 44,056 at Petco Park.

Ventura connected for his second go-ahead, pinch-hit home run of the season with two out in the 12th against right-hander Ricky Stone (1-2), the sixth Padre pitcher, triggering celebrations among many Dodger fans in the new ballpark.

The 15-year veteran hit for Gagne, whose three-inning stint was the longest of his remarkable three-year run as the major leagues’ most dominant closer and helped the Dodgers preserve a 1-1 tie as tension mounted with each pitch.

“We were going to do what was necessary to try to win the game,” Tracy said. “When you’re in situations like we were in this weekend with everything else, there are decisions that you have to make.”

Said Gagne: “I was getting ready to go four innings, but I guess I had to let the hitters do their jobs.”

Tracy pushed the envelope after playing it safe Saturday, when a one-run lead slipped away in the eighth inning of a 3-2 loss. On Sunday, Tracy followed the lead of first-year General Manager Paul DePodesta, who overhauled the roster because he had big things in mind.

“With everything that went on here over the weekend, it was definitely an emotional roller coaster,” said Ventura, whose two-run, pinch-hit homer in the ninth inning July 17 helped the Dodgers defeat Arizona, 7-6.

“The guys who we lost ... those guys have been around here awhile, and they’re some pretty good friends as well as some good players. That’s going to be tough.”

The changes have had a big effect on Dreifort.

He failed in the eighth (three hits, two runs and two walks) Saturday in his first appearance as Gagne’s new primary setup man, but another opportunity quickly unfolded for him.

Dreifort gave up a leadoff single to Brian Giles in the bottom of the 12th after relieving Gagne, but then struck out Ramon Hernandez and Jay Payton. Khalil Greene sent left fielder Jayson Werth close to the wall, where he squeezed the ball in his glove, ending a 3-hour 40-minute game.

“Oh, man, what a series,” said Milton Bradley, who in his first start in right field nailed Sean Burroughs trying to stretch a single into a double to end the 10th.

“These last two games ... the fans were into it. They were ragging on us, but I wouldn’t change anything.

“And hats off to the Padres. They played exceptional baseball.”

The National League West leaders improved to 61-43 -- 8-4 for the season against San Diego -- and went 4-3 on a seven-game trip, taking two of three from the second-place Padres (58-47).

“That was a great atmosphere out there, that was a playoff atmosphere,” said new center fielder Steve Finley, who went two for five with a double and scored the first run in his debut after having been acquired Saturday from Arizona. “It makes a lot of the aches and pains of when you were in last place [with Arizona] go away. You kind of forget about that.”

The Dodgers returned to Los Angeles a much different team after DePodesta’s many major moves before Saturday’s non-waiver trading deadline. However, they maintained a 3 1/2 -game lead over the Padres despite emotional upheaval in the clubhouse and altered roles.

Co-owner Frank McCourt’s team, which had played 18 straight days, is off today, welcoming the break after a dizzying 72-hour period that might define its season. Talk about a big series in early August.

“That’s the biggest win of the year,” said Gagne (4-0), who threw 22 strikes in a season-high 37 pitches, his second-highest total since being converted from a starter to a closer.

“That was amazing. The crowd was into it, we were into it, and there were so many great plays. With all the trades, with everything that happened this weekend, our emotions ... we were a little low. Now, we’re back together. We needed that.”

Especially Dreifort.

“That’s the good thing about being in the bullpen,” said Dreifort, who recorded his first save since 1997. “You’ve got a chance to go right back out there and help the team win a ballgame.”