[0] GAGNE FINALLY ARRIVES JET-LAGGED PITCHER FORCED INTO ACTION DODGERS 6, ARIZONA 3.

Byline: Brian Dohn Staff Writer

PHOENIX - The Dodgers found a way to keep Eric Gagne from being too charged up for a start, but it's kind of complicated.

First, sit him through a minor-league game the night before. Then, have him hop on a plane, preferably in Memphis, Tenn., at 4:30 a.m. and send him through Dallas, Albuquerque and Las Vegas before arriving at the ballpark. In this particular instance, send him to the desert.

Oh, and wait until two hours before the game to tell him he's starting.

It worked Monday as Gagne, pressed into duty because Ismael Valdes was injured, pitched six shutout innings as the Dodgers beat Arizona 6-3 at Bank One Ballpark.

It pulled the Dodgers (75-69) within 2 1/2 games of the second-place Diamondbacks. However, the Dodgers remain 10 1/2 behind front-running San Francisco.

It was Gagne's third major-league win and second this season. His other victory came June 6 when he pitched six innings against Texas. Gagne allowed one hit and struck out seven in his most impressive major-league start.

Ironically, Gagne only got the nod due to circumstance. Valdes was scheduled to start but was scratched about two hours before the game because of numbness in his right pinkie, which he said caused him to lose control of his pitches.

Gagne had arrived about 30 minutes before the decision was made and after he spent all day on a plane. He was in Memphis, where Triple-A Albuquerque was in the playoffs. But the only reason he was in Phoenix was the Dukes were eliminated from the playoffs Sunday.

If Gagne had pitched this way during the first half of the season, though - which the Dodgers perhaps didn't expect - there never would have been a Valdes episode to allow Gagne this start.

Because Gagne faltered through the first four months of the season, going 1-6 with a 5.85 ERA, the Dodgers felt their only chance to make a run at the playoffs was to acquire a veteran pitcher. Valdes, traded away during the offseason and bad-mouthed by the Dodgers for his lack of toughness and courage, was the only viable option.

``When we discussed (trading) Ismael (in the offseason), one reason we could do that is I thought Gagne was going to be a No. 2,'' Dodgers manager Davey Johnson said. ``That's how high I had him and I wasn't alone, based on what he did in September. And I still feel that way.''

As far as the Dodgers' coaching staff is concerned, it is not a matter of if, but when Gagne will become a top-notch starter in the major leagues.

Gagne's biggest issue was overcoming early control problems and that plagued him against the Diamondbacks. He allowed a two-out single to center to Luis Gonzalez in the first inning and walked the next two batters. Gagne got out of the inning by retiring Matt Williams on a called third strike.

Gagne gave up two more walks in the outing but retired 12 consecutive batters in between.

The Dodgers led 1-0 after the first inning on Gary Sheffield's RBI double. They increased it to 5-0 in the fifth inning, which Tom Goodwin led off with his first homer as a Dodger. Mark Grudzielanek doubled and scored on Sheffield's double, which gave him 104 RBI. It also marked the 10th consecutive plate appearance in which Sheffield reached base via walk or hit.

Shawn Green then singled to score Sheffield and Eric Karros flew out to left field for the second out. But Todd Hundley singled and Adrian Beltre followed with a double to center field to score Green and make it 5-0.