Gagne Has Earned a Day of Rest
Under no circumstances will Eric Gagne pitch tonight against the Milwaukee Brewers at Miller Park.
“There’s no way he’ll be out there,†Manager Jim Tracy said after the Dodger closer earned his sixth save in seven days in Thursday’s 4-3 victory over the Colorado Rockies at Dodger Stadium.
“We’re not even going to entertain that thought. There is a limit, and we’ve reached it.â€
The second-year closer was at his most dominant as the Dodgers went 7-2 on the homestand. Gagne saved every victory as they swept the Florida Marlins and Rockies.
Gagne became the first closer to earn saves in six straight games since Rod Beck accomplished the feat in 1998 for the Chicago Cubs.
The Montreal native struck out 10 in a row during one span in his workhorse run and never threw more than 15 pitches. In six scoreless innings against the Marlins and Rockies, Gagne had 14 strikeouts without a walk.
Gagne gave up one hit -- an infield single to Greg Norton in Wednesday’s 3-2 victory over the Rockies -- and says he has set his goals high.
“I think about it every day: I want to be the best closer ever,†said Gagne, who has 45 strikeouts and five walks (one intentional) in 25 innings. “I want to leave a mark. I want people to remember me when I’m done.
“When you walk around guys like Sandy Koufax, he’s a living legend, he’s amazing, and that’s what I want to do. That’s why I work out every day, because I want to be in that category, even though I might never make it.â€
He’s closer than he thinks, Tracy said.
“I’m not starting on the parade right now; I started to say last year that he could become the best closer that the game has ever seen,†Tracy said. “In order to get to that point there’s still some tenure that has to be served ... but he’s marching and advancing in that direction.â€
*
ON DECK
Opponent -- Milwaukee Brewers, three games.
Site -- Miller Park.
TV -- Fox Sports Net 2 tonight, Channel 13 Saturday and Sunday.
Radio -- KFWB (980), KWKW (1330).
Records -- Dodgers 27-20, Brewers 18-29.
2002 record vs. Brewers -- 5-1.
Today, 5 p.m. -- Odalis Perez (3-2, 2.93 ERA) vs. Glendon Rusch (1-7, 7.26).
Saturday, 4 p.m. -- Hideo Nomo (5-4, 3.04) vs. Matt Kinney (3-3, 3.43).
Sunday, 11 a.m. -- Kevin Brown (5-1, 2.38) vs. Ben Sheets (4-3, 4.58).
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