DODGERS NOTEBOOK: GAGNE AWAITS WATSON'S WORD.

Byline: Brian Dohn Staff Writer

CINCINNATI - For a bullpen that's trying to find its form for the final two months of the season, any missed time for closer Eric Gagne could be catastrophic.

The Dodgers probably will have to wait at least two days to find out if Bob Watson, who rules on disciplinary matters for baseball, will suspend or fine Gagne after his animated argument Thursday with home-plate umpire Dan Iassogna in the ninth inning of their 13-inning, 6-4 loss to Cincinnati.

Gagne was ejected after he hit Adam Dunn in the right arm with his next pitch after Aaron Boone's homer. Despite the Dodgers leading 4-2 and needing three outs for the win, Iassogna ruled it was intentional and ejected Gagne.

In the ensuing argument, Gagne and Iassogna were in close quarters.

``(Catcher) Chad Kreuter was trying to get in between us and there was a lot of jostling going on,'' Iassogna said. ``It wasn't a situation where I'd say, 'Yeah, that's a bump.' A bump is intentional contact made. That's not what it was. There was no intentional contact that he made with me.''

Iassogna and crew chief Gerry Davis both said no report would be filed, but Watson might review the incident.

Gagne said he did not make contact with Iassogna.

``I guarantee you I didn't,'' said Gagne, who was ejected for the first time in his career. ``I can't argue anymore? Is that a rule now? They better not (suspend me). That would be out of control. It cost us the ballgame and it cost us to use a lot of arms for no reason. It's a joke. I hope those people that take notes on umpires were watching on TV.''

Dodgers manager Jim Tracy, who was also ejected for arguing, said he watched the ``replay very closely'' and Gagne did not bump Iassogna.

``To make a call like that, I wouldn't have expected to see somebody just standing out there passively accepting the decision like that,'' Tracy said in supporting Gagne's reaction. ``They better take that into account, because we get to lose a game in a manner we didn't deserve to get beat in the manner that game just ended. I'm not saying we wouldn't have lost. But I much rather would have lost with Eric Gagne on the mound, quite obviously.''

--Rotation tweaked: Gagne's ejection and the subsequent failures of the bullpen to hold the two-run lead had far-reaching effects for the starting rotation. Left-hander Omar Daal was slated to start today in Philadelphia, but he threw 26 pitches in 1 1/3 innings of relief and was scratched.

Instead, right-hander Andy Ashby will pitch on his full complement of rest in today's series opener, but the real change could come with Saturday's game. Tracy and pitching coach Jim Colborn were to talk on the flight to Philadelphia, and the probable option is starting left-hander Kazuhisa Ishii on short rest.

Ishii threw just 72 pitches in 2 2/3 innings during his start Tuesday against the Reds and he undertakes a rigorous throwing program that lends itself to pitching on short rest when needed. Daal would likely start Sunday.

--Orosco on time: After struggling against left-handers the first half of the season, Dodgers left-handed specialist Jesse Orosco has found his groove. Since the All-Star break, Orosco has allowed two hits and one run in nine appearances. Left-handers were batting .303 (10 for 33) against Orosco before the break but are batting .133 (2 for 15) since.

Orosco, who has eight strikeouts and issued one walk in that time, credits a more aggressive approach.

``I'm throwing more strikes, getting ahead and I'm getting a little more aggressive,'' Orosco said. ``I think I was pitching outside the strike zone too much, trying not to get hit. I'm being more aggressive now and I'm just going to try and stay there. We all go through spells. It's just a matter of how long it takes to get out of them.''

However, his success wasn't enough to dissuade the Dodgers from going to Giovanni Carrara to try and get the final out in the ninth inning to preserve a victory. Opting for the right-handed Carrara against the right- handed-hitting Jason LaRue didn't work as LaRue doubled in the tying runs.

``We just made up our mind that we were going to have Jess face the left-handers and Carrara face the right-handers there,'' said bench coach Jim Riggleman, who took over the managing duties when Tracy was ejected. ``We kind of predetermined that as we saw that's the way the lineup was turning over. Yeah, Jesse is throwing the ball good. But Carrara is a guy who's been a big part of this staff that we just have confidence he would get the guy.''

--Odds and ends: Dodgers right-hander Kevin Brown threw 40 pitches in his final bullpen session before his rehab start Saturday in Las Vegas. ... Reds starter Elmer Dessens left after four innings because of a strained groin. ... Former Dodgers right-hander Terry Adams, who bad-mouthed the organization in spring training by saying the Dodgers spread rumors he was hurt and therefore decreased his value in the offseason, is back in the Philadelphia Phillies bullpen. Adams was 4-7 with a 5.00 ERA in 19 starts but was 0-2 with an 11.25 ERA in his last four starts so was shipped to relief. He is yet to allow a run in 5 2/3 innings of relief.

DODGERS vs. PHILADELPHIA

Time:4:05 p.m., Veterans Stadium.

TV/Radio: Fox Sports Net 2; 1150-AM, 1330-AM (Spanish).

Matchup: The 13-inning loss forced the Dodgers to revamp their rotation, so RH Andy Ashby (7-9, 3.94 ERA) will pitch against one of his former teams in the opener of a four-game series. Ashby allowed two earned runs in six innings Sunday in San Francisco, but with Monday's day off, he is able to throw on his regular four days rest. Phillies RH Vicente Padilla (11-6, 3.28), an All-Star, is 1-2 with a 4.03 ERA in his last six starts. One of the principals of the Curt Schilling deal, Padilla leads the club in wins and innings pitched (145 1/3). Saturday - TBD vs. Phillies RH Joe Roa (0-1, 4.76); Sunday - TBD vs. Phillies RH Brett Myers (1-1, 4.91); Monday - Dodgers RH Hideo Nomo (11-6, 3.31) vs. Phillies RH Brandon Duckworth (5-8, 4.88).

- Brian Dohn

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DODGERS vs. PHILADELPHIA (see text)