Gagne Toss Is Latest Turn; Dodgers Lose

The Dodgers left San Francisco fighting mad after another bench-clearing incident capped their miserable experience as the Giants completed a four-game sweep Thursday with a 9-3 victory at SBC Park.

Giant right fielder Michael Tucker was in the middle of the action for the second time in as many days, igniting an unpleasant on-field meeting between the rivals when Eric Gagne delivered a high-and-tight fastball to him in the eighth.

Tucker and Gagne were ejected as a sellout crowd 42,621 reveled in the final moments of the Giants’ sixth consecutive victory and fifth in their last six games against the Dodgers.

The National League West leaders remained ablaze while opening a 2 1/2-game lead on the Dodgers, who are only a half game ahead of third-place San Diego. San Francisco starter Brett Tomko (2-4) laid the foundation Thursday with a strong six-inning, one-run outing.

The Dodgers (37-33) arrived here atop the division and brimming with confidence after winning a home interleague series against the New York Yankees amid an October-like environment, but playoffs weren’t their focus on departing.

“They took it to us this series,” leadoff batter Dave Roberts said. “Losing four straight to those guys definitely leaves a bad taste in your mouth, and the stuff that happened on the field.... We’ve just got to find a way to beat those guys when we see them again in a few days.”

The Dodgers said Tucker’s antics wouldn’t be forgotten when the teams meet again in a three-game series beginning Tuesday at Dodger Stadium.

Starter Jeff Weaver and Tucker tangled in the fifth inning of Wednesday’s 11-5 loss as Tucker took exception to Weaver’s tag on a play at first. On Thursday, Tucker waited until the eighth to erupt.

With the Giants (41-32) having taken command, 9-1, after chasing struggling starter Hideo Nomo (3-9) in a six-run sixth, Manager Jim Tracy summoned Gagne, who had not pitched in the series.

The All-Star closer struck out Dustan Mohr and walked Ray Durham with No. 2 batter Tucker on deck. Gagne’s fourth pitch -- a 97-mph fastball -- was high and inside but nowhere close to hitting Tucker, who spun then dropped to the ground.

“I thought that that was completely overdone by Michael Tucker,” said Tracy, whose team was swept in a four-game series at San Francisco for the first time since 1975. “And what I have to base that on is the fact that if you look at the replay, the ball’s not even close.

“It’s a high fastball that you can actually honestly say is over the plate. It’s not a strike, it’s a ball, but it’s a ball that’s over the plate. Everything else beyond that to me was quite theatrical.”

Giant Manager Felipe Alou didn’t speak of theatrics.

“I always felt even back in the days when I was playing, and there were real fights with the Dodgers, that there would never be a brawl without a reason,” said Alou. “That’s all I want to say about that.”

Giant center fielder Marquis Grissom said there was a good reason.

“”There will be no intimidation against us, and we’re not going to try to intimidate them,” said Grissom, who formerly played for the Dodgers. “Tucker was just trying to protect himself when he got a 97-mph fastball up in his face. That’s tough to take.”

Tucker, who declined comment, motioned toward the mound while shouting at Gagne, who dropped his glove and walked toward the plate while shouting, “Let’s go.”

“He was charging, so I dropped my glove,” Gagne said. “I didn’t expect him to charge. You can’t throw in anymore? It’s pretty sad. He knows it wasn’t even close. He knows he just got carried away because he tried to hurt our players [Wednesday].

“I guess he thought it was payback. He knows the game. He knows you don’t try to hurt anyone. It wasn’t even close and he knows it. You look at the replays and he just got carried away.”

Gagne almost did as well when umpires informed him he also had been ejected. Third baseman Adrian Beltre rushed to the mound, pushing Gagne away from the crew headed by chief Tim Welke.

“The way we’re playing right now, we lost four in a row, we can’t afford to lose Gagne,” Beltre said. “I just wanted to make sure he didn’t get suspended or have anything stupid happen.”

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Opposing Force

Barry Bonds did not homer against the Dodgers during the Giants’ four-game sweep. Since 2001, Bonds has hit more home runs against the Dodgers than any other NL West team. A look at Bonds’ numbers since 2001:

Home Runs:

vs. Dodgers...29

vs. Arizona...28

vs. Colorado...27

vs. San Diego...24

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Batting Average

vs. Colorado....396

vs. San Diego....355

vs. Arizona... .319

vs. Dodgers....313